A massive fire that broke out in a warehouse on sixth floor of Mansur Khan Plaza in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area has not been fully extinguished even after more than 21 hours.
The blaze originated around 5:02pm on Monday. Although firefighters managed to bring the fire under control at 5:20am, dampening-down operations are still underway.
No fatalities have been reported in the incident; however, four firefighters fell ill due to dense smoke inhalation and were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for treatment.
On Tuesday noon, Fire Service official Ruhul Amin said the fire was brought under control, allowing the number of deployed firefighting units to be reduced from 12 to six.
Initially, six units from Lalbagh, Siddikbazar Headquarters, and Palashi fire stations responded to the emergency. As the flames intensified, a total of 12 units, including a Special Response Team and a Lighting Unit, were brought in to tackle the blaze.
Firefighting efforts were severely hampered by narrow alleys, an acute shortage of water, and insufficient ventilation for heat and smoke within the building.
Water reserves in the vicinity were quickly exhausted, requiring firefighters to change pumps and reservoirs while water bowsers from WASA were brought in to sustain the operation. Glass panes from upper-floor windows were also seen shattering and falling at intervals.
Upon arrival, fire personnel observed extreme smoke and heat on the sixth and seventh floors, where the warehouses were locked shut.
Members of the fire service had to cut through four to five locks on each warehouse shutter, as well as locked collapsible gates, amidst dense smoke and high temperatures to gain entry.
Fire Service official Kazi Nazmuzaman said the sixth floor contains 12 to 14 large warehouses, of which seven to eight caught fire. These warehouses were heavily stocked with items including umbrellas, cosmetics, perfume bottles (attar), leather products, bags, and chemical materials, making the complete extinction of the fire time-consuming.
Nazmuzaman explained that although active flames inside the building have been put out, firefighters are currently moving the damaged goods and dousing them with water to clear hidden hotspots.
He added that six units remain at the site because trapped heat and smoke beneath the dense inventory could reignite the fire if personnel leave prematurely.
Addressing the severity of the incident, Nazmuzaman noted that the plaza did not suffer as much damage as the public had initially feared.
He highlighted that the building is connected to three or four adjoining markets, and firefighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties.
The total extent of financial damage is yet to be determined and will require time for owners and authorities to assess.
However, Shahnur Alam, owner of a sixth-floor bag warehouse, said products worth approximately Tk15 lakh to Tk16 lakh in his warehouse were completely burnt.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established as operations remain ongoing, though an electrical short circuit is suspected due to the presence of power lines in the building.
Nazmuzaman confirmed that a formal probe committee will be formed to investigate the incident and determine the actual cause.
Meanwhile, a Crime Scene Unit from the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrived at the scene but was unable to begin its investigation immediately due to excessive heat and smoke inside.
To facilitate firefighting operations and ensure safety, law enforcement agencies erected barricades on both sides of the road in front of the plaza to restrict public movement.
