A fire broke out in a six-story commercial building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on the evening of February 29, resulting in significant fatalities and injuries.

The fire took at least 46 lives and left numerous people injured, some in critical condition.

The fire started around 10:00 pm, with initial suspicions pointing to a restaurant named Kacchi Bhai within the building. However, further investigations and a statement from Abdul Halim, the manager of Kacchi Bhai, have since shifted the suspected origin to Chumak, another ground-floor eatery. The fire rapidly spread through the building, which housed a range of shops and restaurants, creating a perilous situation for those trapped inside.

Emergency services arrived on the scene and fought the blaze for over two hours before successfully bringing it under control. The building’s hazardous design, including the presence of gas cylinders on each floor and along staircases, and a lack of necessary safety measures such as sufficient ventilation, fire safety equipment, and clearly marked emergency exits, significantly hampered their efforts. Witnesses said there was only one staircase and elevator and no emergency exits. A regulatory agency said the building was not permitted to have restaurants, but eight were operating, and the builder was supposed to correct fire extinguishing systems.

Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen reported that 33 victims were declared dead upon arrival at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while more fatalities occurred at the city’s primary burns hospital. At least 22 people are currently receiving critical care in hospital settings, with up to 75 injured in all. This tragic event has underscored the pressing need for improved fire safety in Bangladesh, highlighting the often inadequate safety protocols in both commercial and residential buildings.

Survivors’ eyewitness accounts reveal harrowing tales of escape; people were forced to flee through broken windows or descend the building using makeshift ropes, others jumped from higher floors. Survivor Mohammad Altaf recounted his narrow escape, a somber story marked by the loss of two colleagues who played vital roles in the evacuation process but did not survive.

Brigadier General Main Uddin, leader of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense, suggested that the fire could have been caused by a gas leak or a malfunctioning stove. He highlighted the dangerous condition of the building, exacerbated by the improper storage of flammable items like gas cylinders throughout the premises.

The recurrence of such fires has renewed concerns about the enforcement of building codes and safety regulations within Dhaka. 

In response to this issue, the government has announced the creation of an investigative committee. This committee is tasked with identifying the exact cause of the fire and evaluating the safety standards of commercial buildings across the city.