Massive Blaze Engulfs BAT Tobacco Warehouses

A major fire broke out at two tobacco warehouses belonging to British American Tobacco (BAT) in the Ashulia industrial area on the outskirts of Dhaka on Wednesday morning, prompting a large-scale emergency response involving seven fire service units and multiple teams from the Industrial Police.

The fire began at around 7:00 a.m. at the company’s tobacco storage facilities in the Nalam area of Ashulia. According to initial reports, the flames spread rapidly through different sections of the warehouses, producing thick plumes of black smoke that were visible from a considerable distance. Alarmed residents and workers in the surrounding area quickly alerted the Fire Service and Civil Defence after noticing the smoke rising from the industrial complex.

Emergency responders initially deployed five firefighting units to the scene. Firefighters immediately began efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures. Despite sustained operations, the intensity of the fire meant it remained uncontrolled for several hours. As the situation became more challenging, two additional firefighting units were dispatched, bringing the total number engaged in the operation to seven.

The scale of the blaze created anxiety among residents living close to the warehouses. Fearing that the fire could spread further, many families moved valuable belongings to safer locations as a precaution. Authorities also took measures to secure the surrounding area and minimise potential risks to nearby businesses and residential properties.

To maintain public order and facilitate the emergency response, four teams from the Industrial Police were deployed at the scene. Officials from various administrative agencies also visited the site to monitor the ongoing firefighting operation and assess the evolving situation.

Fire Service officials said the exact cause of the fire could not be determined while firefighting efforts were still under way. They added that a full investigation would be launched once the blaze had been completely extinguished. The extent of the damage, including any losses to stored tobacco products, warehouse infrastructure, or other property, will only be confirmed after a comprehensive assessment.

Deputy Assistant Director of the Fire Service, Hafizur Rahman, told the media that firefighters received reports of the incident at around 7:30 a.m. Four units from the Zirabo Fire Station were initially dispatched and immediately began efforts to contain the flames. As the fire continued to burn, two additional units from the DEPZ Fire Station joined the operation to reinforce the response.

He explained that, despite the deployment of additional resources, the fire had not yet been brought under full control and warned that extinguishing it could take considerable time due to the nature of the materials stored inside the warehouses.

Industrial warehouse fires often present significant operational challenges for firefighters because combustible materials can accelerate the spread of flames and generate dense smoke, making access to affected sections more difficult. Emergency crews typically focus on preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings while gradually bringing the affected structures under control.

As of the latest available information, firefighting operations were continuing, and no official confirmation had been issued regarding casualties or injuries. Authorities said further details on the origin of the fire and the financial impact would be released after the emergency response had concluded and investigators completed their assessment.