Cotton Factory Damaged by Fire in Narayanganj

Narayanganj, 13 January: A major fire broke out at a cotton processing factory in Lalurkandi, Fatepur Union, under the jurisdiction of Araihazar Police Station in Narayanganj on Tuesday morning. The incident, which occurred around mid-morning, caused significant damage to the factory premises and machinery.

The factory, owned by local entrepreneur Mohammad Samad, the son of the late Rahman, is situated adjacent to a jute warehouse, a factor that contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. According to the owner, the blaze destroyed cotton stock, jute, and several key machines, causing preliminary losses estimated at approximately BDT 1 million.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke rising from the factory early in the morning. Within minutes, the fire spread across multiple sections, engulfing three cotton processing machines and a motor, along with large portions of the factory infrastructure.

Emergency response teams acted swiftly. Araihazar Upazila Fire Service personnel arrived promptly at the scene, initiating firefighting operations. Police from Araihazar Station and local residents also assisted in controlling the blaze. After nearly one hour of intensive effort, the fire was brought under control.

Araihazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Alauddin indicated that an electrical short circuit is believed to be the probable cause. “The fire likely started from an electrical fault. Due to the proximity of the cotton factory to the jute warehouse, the flames spread quickly,” he explained. He added that the exact financial and material losses will be assessed after a full investigation.

Fire Station In-Charge Robiul further confirmed that the factory’s location near combustible materials accelerated the fire. “We are still evaluating the extent of the damage, but preliminary observations suggest the fire originated from electrical equipment,” he said.

The following table summarises the initial assessment of the fire’s impact:

Authorities have urged factory owners to ensure proper electrical maintenance and safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future. No casualties were reported in this fire, though the financial loss is significant for the local business owner. The investigation into the precise cause and total damage is ongoing.