Two firefighters were injured due to smoke inhalation while battling a blaze at Mansur Khan Plaza in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar, where 12 Fire Service units continued efforts to extinguish the fire.
The warehouses located on the building’s sixth floor have been gutted in the blaze, according to the Fire Service.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Mahmudul Hasan, director of the Operations and Maintenance Department of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, disclosed the information during a press briefing early Tuesday.
However, the fire was brought under control around 5:20am after nearly 12 hours of continuous firefighting efforts.
A total of 12 units, including 10 units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, a special response team, and a lighting unit, are still working at the site.
During the briefing, Lieutenant Colonel Mahmudul said the building houses warehouses storing various products, including cosmetics and bags. The fire originated in one warehouse and spread to several compartments. The large volume of goods stored inside the building has complicated efforts to bring the blaze under control.
The fire broke out at Mansur Khan Plaza around 5pm on Monday. Following the report, the first Fire Service unit reached the scene at 5:22pm. The fire had not been fully controlled by late night.
The narrow roads of Old Dhaka and the structural condition of the building created difficulties in deploying specialised and heavy firefighting vehicles to the scene. Firefighters have also faced challenges in tackling flames that spread to different sections of the building, the official said.
Around 150 Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel are participating in the operation. Volunteers and local residents are also assisting in the firefighting effort.
The extent of the damage and the total number of shops or warehouses could not be determined immediately. The cause of the fire also remained unknown.
Further details would be available following an investigation after the firefighting operation concludes.
Regarding the possibility of people being inside the building when the fire broke out, the official said some people had managed to come out. However, as the warehouses are usually closed, it could not be confirmed whether anyone remained inside.
