- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Dhaka fire news: A major fire broke out early Saturday in a 12-storey mixed-use building located in a busy market area of Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, prompting a large-scale rescue and firefighting operation. At least 42 people were safely rescued from the building, while no casualties were reported, officials confirmed.
The fire erupted on the ground floor of the Jabal E Nur Tower during the early morning hours. According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, they received the first alert at around 5:37 am local time. Firefighting units reached the spot within minutes and began efforts to contain the blaze.
Firefighting Operation And Rescue Efforts
Fire service media officer Anwarul Islam said a total of 18 firefighting units were deployed to bring the situation under control. The rescue operation focused on evacuating residents trapped on the upper floors, which house residential apartments above commercial spaces.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were also deployed at the site. BGB public relations officer Shariful Islam said their teams assisted with crowd control, ensured law and order, and helped maintain clear access for emergency responders. Firefighters had to forcibly open locked shutters and shop entrances to reach the source of the fire, a move that slowed down operations but was necessary to prevent the flames from spreading further.
Senior Staff Officer of the Fire Service Media Cell, Md Shahjahan Shikdar, said the fire-hit complex consists of multiple structures sharing a common basement. The ground and first floors are occupied by garment shops and small scrap warehouses, while families live on the upper floors. He noted that the basement has only two entry points, making access difficult during emergencies. Locals and business owners claimed that scrap clothing stored in the basement may have fuelled the fire. However, officials said the exact cause of the blaze was yet to be determined.
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The incident marks the second major fire in a multi-storey building in Dhaka within two months. On October 14, a massive blaze at a chemical warehouse in the capital killed at least 16 people. The 2013 Rana Plaza collapse that killed over 1,100 people, and the 2012 garment factory fire which 117 workers died after being trapped.
Bangladesh has witnessed several deadly industrial disasters over the years, often linked to safety lapses and illegal storage of hazardous materials.
With inputs from PTI.