At least seven people were killed and ten others injured in a devastating fire triggered by a gas cylinder explosion at a garment factory, in the Jamgora area of Ashulia on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred at around 6:45pm at the F&F factory of Priti Group, located near Jamgora Chowrasta, whilst a gas cylinder was being unloaded from a covered van.
According to Hafizur Rahman, deputy assistant director of Fire Service Dhaka Zone-4, four firefighting units were deployed to extinguish the blaze.
However, Senior Station Officer of Jirabo Fire Service, Shahabuddin, and police officials stated that fire service vehicles faced severe delays in reaching the scene and commencing operations due to pothole-filled roads and heavy traffic congestion caused by ongoing construction of the Ashulia Elevated Expressway.
Superintendent of Police for Industrial Police-1, Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, confirmed the death toll of seven and explained that rescue teams were initially unable to enter the entire area due to the intense inferno inside and gridlock on surrounding roads.
He added that the presence of highly flammable fabrics and chemical substances inside the factory caused the fire to spread rapidly across multiple sections within moments.
As of 12:15am, at the time the report was filed, Officer Shahabuddin reported that although the intensity of the fire had diminished, it was still not fully under control.
Victims and Identification
Five of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition, preventing immediate identification. Of the remaining two victims, a 30-year-old woman identified as Salma Akter succumbed to her injuries on the way to hospital after being rescued.
The second identified victim, 45-year-old Bulbul Islam, died en route to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Harun Or Rashid, Manager of the local Nari O Shishu Hospital, confirmed that 10 burn victims were admitted to the facility.
He stated that six of the patients, whose conditions were extremely critical, were transferred to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Four other injured individuals remain under treatment at local hospitals.
Eyewitness accounts and official statements
Industrial Police and factory management confirmed that the fire originated from a gas cylinder explosion near a corner of the factory’s boundary wall.
Liton Mia, a lineman at the garment factory, recounted that the fire erupted immediately after a loud explosion, causing instant casualties. The severe impact of the blast also injured several bystanders on the adjacent road, including a rickshaw puller.
Hemayet, Administrative Officer of Priti Group’s F&F factory, confirmed the cylinder explosion and assured that no workers were trapped inside the building.
