Fire at Teribazar Plaza Claims Two Lives

A devastating fire broke out on Thursday morning at KB Orchid Plaza, a multi-storey commercial complex in Chattogram’s bustling Teribazar area, resulting in the tragic deaths of two men and leaving another critically injured. At least three shops were completely destroyed, and the incident has raised serious concerns over fire safety measures in the busy shopping hub.

The blaze reportedly began around 10:00 a.m. on the fourth floor of the building, originating from a tailor’s shop. Local residents first noticed smoke and immediately alerted the fire service. Units from Chandanpura and Nandan Kanon fire stations dispatched four teams to the scene, and after approximately one hour of intense effort, the fire was fully brought under control by 10:45 a.m.

Several people were trapped inside the building during the fire. Three individuals were rescued with severe burn injuries and rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Emergency department doctors declared two of the victims dead on arrival: Mohammad Yunus, 52, and Mohammad Solaiman, 28, both originally from Patia Upazila in Chattogram. The third victim remains under critical care, with doctors reporting a precarious condition.

Nurul Alam Ashik, officer in charge of the hospital police post, confirmed the fatalities and stressed that the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined. He added that an official investigation is underway to ascertain the origins of the blaze. Meanwhile, Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Deputy Director of the Fire Service, stated that the three victims were retrieved from life-threatening conditions and immediately transported to hospital, with the source of the fire still under examination.

Teribazar is one of Chattogram’s key commercial centres, attracting large crowds, particularly in the lead-up to Eid-ul-Fitr. Although the early start of the holiday meant fewer shoppers were present at the time of the fire, onlookers quickly gathered after news of the blaze spread. The incident has sparked concern among local traders and residents regarding the adequacy of the building’s fire safety protocols, prompting calls for urgent review and reinforcement of preventive measures.

The key details of the incident are summarised in the table below:

The tragedy has emphasised the importance of robust fire safety measures in densely populated commercial zones. Authorities are under pressure to ensure comprehensive investigations and implement stronger safety regulations to prevent similar disasters in the future.