Fire at Sher-e-Bangla Hospital Claims Two Lives

A serious fire broke out at the new building of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (ShSMCH) in Barisal on Tuesday night, resulting in the deaths of two patients and leaving six others, including four Ansar personnel, unwell. Although the blaze caused no immediate casualties, the evacuation process under panic conditions contributed to the fatalities.

The fire began at approximately 11:00 pm on the fifth floor of the hospital’s new building, in a storeroom adjacent to the medicine ward. Eyewitnesses reported that the flames spread rapidly across stored foam, blankets, and pillows, producing dense smoke that quickly filled nearby corridors.

Panic ensued among patients, visitors, medical staff, and nurses across multiple floors. Many rushed outside, carrying patients to the streets for safety.

Fire Service and Civil Defence responded promptly, dispatching three units to the scene. After roughly 40 minutes of effort, they successfully brought the fire under control. Prior attempts by hospital staff and local residents to extinguish the flames using fire extinguishers were unsuccessful.

Tragically, two patients lost their lives during the evacuation process: Kazi Ataur Rahman, aged 80, from Patuakhali, and Abul Hossain, aged 67, from Barisal.

Kazi Ataur Rahman’s daughter-in-law, Sajeda Parvin, stated that her father-in-law was admitted on the fourth floor and required continuous oxygen and an inhaler. During the evacuation, he was moved downstairs without oxygen support. Attempts to obtain emergency oxygen from a private ambulance stationed on the hospital compound were unsuccessful, leading to his death due to oxygen deprivation.

Abul Hossain’s son, Abdullah, described how he left his parents at the hospital overnight. Upon hearing about the fire, he rushed back within 30 minutes to find his father had already passed away.

Hospital officials confirmed the situation and ongoing evacuation efforts. Assistant Director Dr. Abdul Munayem Sad said, “The fire started in a corner of the medicine ward and patients were moved to safety immediately. Initially, no casualties were reported.” Deputy Director Dr. Nazmul Ahsan added that approximately 100 patients were admitted across two units, all of whom were safely transferred to other areas.

Fire Service Station Officer Abuzar Gifri noted that the precise cause of the fire remains unclear. The flammable items stored in the room caused the fire to spread rapidly. Preliminary assessments suggest it could have been triggered by a short circuit or accidental negligence. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident.

Summary of Impact

The incident has highlighted gaps in hospital emergency protocols and the urgent need for enhanced fire safety measures. Authorities have pledged to strengthen evacuation and emergency response systems to prevent similar tragedies in the future.