A worker at TupTup Resto and Resort in Inani, Cox’s Bazar, fell asleep after putting a kettle on a gas stove in the kitchen on Saturday morning. Shortly afterwards, a deafening explosion rocked the building, and within moments, flames engulfed the entire three-storey resort.
Employees and guests scrambled to escape, but several people became trapped inside as the fire spread rapidly.
Eyewitnesses said the fire broke out around 7am on Saturday. Before it intensified, several employees managed to escape with two pet dogs and four cats belonging to the resort’s owner.
Firefighters later recovered 10 bodies after extinguishing the blaze. Six others suffered burn injuries, four of whom were sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment.
Four tourists from the same family in Jashore remain missing following the fire. The whereabouts of another female tourist, identified as Nasrin, have also not been confirmed.
Resort employees said the owner’s two dogs and four cats had been kept on the second floor of the building. Four or five employees managed to bring the animals outside shortly after the fire began spreading.
A resident of a nearby house said, “I woke up to the sound of an explosion. When I came outside, I saw TupTup on fire. Four or five employees were running around with dogs and cats. I knew the animals belonged to the owner, Tanvir. I had seen him walking his dogs along the beach countless times.”
Employees said 19 staff members were on duty at the resort when the fire broke out.
Resort manager Sumon said all 19 managed to escape. However, concerns arose over whether all the guests had been able to get out.
Speaking to journalists before his arrest, Sumon said, “There were 19 employees, including myself, working at the resort when the fire broke out. As soon as the fire started, we rushed outside to save our lives.”
According to Sumon, 21 guests were staying in six of the resort’s nine rooms.
Several guests were reported missing after the fire. Firefighters later recovered 10 bodies, while relatives of four members of a family from Jashore remained increasingly anxious as their whereabouts could not be established.
Resort built on nearly Tk1cr land, housed collection of pets
According to locals, Tanvir Sultan Mia, son of Tipu Sultan Mia from Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram, purchased around 10 decimals of land beside Marine Drive in Inani mouza of Ukhiya from Ghias Uddin and others for around Tk1 crore in June 2022.
He subsequently developed TupTup Resto and Resort on the site with his business partner, Niaz Morshed. The resort began commercial operations in January 2024.
Tanvir also reportedly owns an internet service provider called Surfnet.
Locals said Tanvir had arranged to keep pet dogs and cats at the resort to attract guests.
The animals included an Italian-breed dog named Kenny, a German-breed dog named Kiana and several cats of foreign breeds, including Persian cats.
The animals were not only kept as pets but were also bought and sold.
Tanvir’s whereabouts could not be confirmed following the fire. His business partner, Niaz Morshed, also could not be located.
Police, however, have not provided any confirmed information about their whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a five-member investigation committee to examine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan said the committee had been instructed to submit its report by Tuesday.
