A fire at Mansur Khan Plaza Market in Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka, has destroyed goods stored in seven to eight warehouses, with the sixth floor suffering the heaviest damage. The warehouses contained umbrellas, cosmetics, attar and various other products. The full extent of the financial losses has yet to be determined. Four Fire Service personnel also fell ill due to intense heat and heavy smoke while tackling the blaze and have been kept in hospital for observation.
Kazi Nazmuzaman, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, shared the details at a briefing on Tuesday morning. He said the fire was brought under control at around 5.20 am, but firefighters were still working to extinguish the remaining hotspots.
The warehouses were packed with goods, making it difficult to put out the fire completely. Smoke continued to emerge intermittently as damaged merchandise was removed from the premises. Firefighters were using water to extinguish any remaining flames and prevent the fire from spreading again. Six Fire Service units remained at the scene to continue the operation.
Nazmuzaman said several obstacles had complicated the firefighting effort. The warehouse doors were locked, and some shops had three or four padlocks in addition to collapsible security gates. Firefighters had to cut through the locks before gaining access to the premises and tackling the fire inside.
The narrow streets of Old Dhaka also made it difficult for fire engines to reach the affected building. Inadequate ventilation meant smoke could not escape easily, further complicating the operation. Water shortages presented another significant challenge, as the available reserves repeatedly ran out and had to be replenished.
Cause of the Fire Yet to Be Established
The authorities have not yet established what caused the fire. Nazmuzaman said the Fire Service would investigate the incident after the blaze had been completely extinguished. An investigation committee would be formed to determine how the fire started.
The building had electrical wiring, and a short circuit is being considered as a possible cause. However, the official stressed that no definitive conclusion could be reached before the investigation was completed.
He added that there was no information indicating that anyone lived in the building. Shopkeepers and local residents assisted firefighters during the operation.
Financial Losses Await Assessment
The exact value of the damage remains unknown. According to Nazmuzaman, determining the losses will take time because the quantity of goods stored in the warehouses and the extent of the destruction must first be assessed.
The warehouse owners will be able to provide more accurate estimates once they have assessed their inventories and identified the goods destroyed in the fire.
The incident has highlighted the challenges of firefighting in the densely built commercial areas of Old Dhaka, where narrow access roads, locked premises and limited ventilation can make emergency operations particularly difficult. The availability of an adequate water supply is also crucial during prolonged firefighting efforts.
Fire Service personnel are continuing to extinguish the remaining hotspots and clear damaged goods from the affected premises. The investigation is expected to provide further information about the cause of the fire, while a clearer picture of the financial losses should emerge after the warehouse owners complete their assessments.
