Three Severely Burnt Following Violent Altercation Over Octane

In a catastrophic incident triggered by a trivial dispute, a violent altercation over the distribution of octane led to a massive fire that reduced two plastic factories to ashes in Burichang Upazila, Cumilla. The blaze, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, 18 April 2026, has left three individuals fighting for their lives with critical burn injuries.

The incident took place in Shahdaulatpur village, situated near the Kalakachua area. According to local witnesses, the fire was ignited during a physical struggle between a group of individuals over a container of fuel, which came into contact with a lit cigarette.

Details of the Incident and Casualties

Witnesses reported that a group of men were engaged in a heated argument regarding the “sharing” of octane. As the disagreement escalated into a physical scuffle, a quantity of the highly flammable liquid was spilled. Simultaneously, a lit cigarette held by one of the brawlers sparked the fuel, and the flames immediately leapt toward the adjacent plastic manufacturing units.

The fire spread with terrifying speed, fueled by the combustible plastic raw materials stored within the premises. Three men caught in the immediate vicinity of the ignition suffered severe thermal injuries.

Casualty and Damage Profile

Accounts from the Victims and Factory Owners

The owners of the two factories, Billal Hossain and Nazrul Islam, were reportedly resting inside their respective premises when the disaster unfolded. They described a harrowing escape from the rapidly advancing wall of fire.

“We were asleep inside the factory when the sudden screams of ‘Fire! Fire!’ jolted us awake,” the owners recounted while surveying the ruins. “We barely managed to escape with our lives. Everything we built—our machinery, our stock, our livelihood—has been reduced to nothing but charcoal and ash.”

The emotional and financial toll on the owners is immense, as the estimated loss of approximately 17 lakh BDT represents their entire capital investment. The fire service officials noted that the presence of chemical-based plastic materials made the blaze particularly difficult to suppress, requiring several hours of intensive effort to bring under control.

Law Enforcement and Investigation

Following the alert, two units from the local Fire Service rushed to the scene and eventually extinguished the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby residential dwellings. The three injured men were initially taken to a local hospital, but due to the extent of their burns, doctors recommended an immediate transfer to a specialised burn unit in Dhaka.

Lutfur Rahman, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Burichang Police Station, confirmed the details of the police intervention.

“Our officers arrived at the scene shortly after the fire broke out to maintain order and assist the fire service. Preliminary reports suggest the fire was indeed a result of the altercation involving fuel and a lit cigarette. However, we have launched a formal investigation to identify the individuals involved in the scuffle and to determine if there was any criminal intent behind the incident,” the OC stated.

The incident has left the Shahdaulatpur community in a state of shock, highlighting the lethal risks associated with the negligent handling of volatile fuels in densely packed industrial pockets.