Tk 303cr lost in Bangabazar fire

The fire at Bangabazar Shopping Complex and adjacent markets burnt down 3,845 shops and caused an estimated loss of Tk 303 crore, said the probe committee of Dhaka South City Corporation.

The report of the body, formed to identify the cause of the fire and estimate the loss, said the fire might have started from a burning cigarette or a mosquito repellent coil.

It also dismissed the possibilities of an electric short circuit sparking the fire or arson.

The report added that there was no firefighting system in the markets although they were at risk of fire as they were full of flammable items.

DSCC spokesperson Abu Naser said Marina Nazneen, the probe committee chief and executive officer of DSCC Zone-1, handed over the report to Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh yesterday afternoon.

The fire broke out on April 4 and on that day the DSCC formed the eight-member body and asked it to submit the report in three working days.

The probe report said that according to calculations of DSCC's engineers and information from its revenue department and market construction cell, the structural damage to five markets is estimated at about Tk 14.70 crore.

The affected shops at Bangabazar Complex Market are 2,961 and the estimated loss is Tk 222 crore, 791 shops were damaged at Mahanagar Market and the loss is Tk 59.30 crore, 59 shops were gutted at Banga Islamia Market and the loss is Tk 4.42 crore, 34 shops are burnt at Banga Homeo Complex and the loss is Tk 2.55 crore, according to the report.

Shops at Anexco Tower, which was partially damaged by the fire, were not included as its traders have insurance. But the structural loss to the market could be Tk 1 crore, the report said.

Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, earlier said the loss caused by the fire could be Tk 1,000 crore.

Asked about the difference in figures, Marina said the shop owners might have considered sale price of their products while the probe body considered the traders' purchase price.

The probe body said the fire broke out in an embroidery factory on the second floor of Adarsha unit of Bangabazar Shopping Complex. Eight security members and an electrician used to live on the roof of the Adarsha unit.

Cigarette butts from the roof might have fallen on the second floor and goods in the embroidery factory caught fire. Apart from this, the fire could have also ignited from a burning mosquito repellent coil in the place where the security personnel stayed, the investigators said.

The probe committee recommended constructing concrete buildings for all markets with adequate fire extinguishers, underground water reservoirs and fire hydrants.

It also suggested protecting all water bodies under the city corporations.

Meanwhile, shop owners of Bangabazar Shopping Complex can start their business in makeshift shops from today. The DSCC has already finished clearing the debris from the site.

At a press conference yesterday, Zahirul Islam, general secretary of Bangabazar Complex Shop Owners' Association, said Tk 2.12 crore has been deposited in the fund for the affected traders till Monday.

"Hopefully, a big donation will come from the prime minister. In all, this money will be distributed among the traders," he added.