Staff Reporter:
The army, navy, and fire service are working together to contain a massive fire that erupted at a factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) area.
CEPZ Executive Director Md Abdus Sobhan confirmed to journalists that at least 20-25 workers have been safely rescued from the affected garment factory.
Following the incident, another garment factory near Adams Caps and Textiles was declared closed for the day, Abdus Sobhan added.
Officials are currently checking to see if any other workers or employees are trapped in the factory, said MD Alamgir, assistant director of Agrabad Fire Service.
The fire broke out at the ‘Adams Cap and Textile Limited’ factory on Road No-5, Sector No-1 of CEPZ around 2:30pm and has not been brought under control till 6:30pm.
A total of 16 fire service units from various stations in Chattogram are working to extinguish the fire. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.
The fire broke out on the 7th floor of the Adams Caps and Textiles factory where workers usually work on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
All workers were safely evacuated from the building immediately the fire started.
Officer-in-Charge of the EPZ Police Station Mohammad Jamir Hossain confirmed that the fire occurred in a factory inside the EPZ that manufactured medical accessories.
Deputy Director of the Chattogram Divisional Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, Md Jashim Uddin, informed reporters that the fire quickly spread to the sixth, seventh, and eighth floors of the eight-storey building.
Fire service units first rushed the spot and started to extinguish the blaze.
The fire has not been brought under control yet, and the intensity of the fire has made it challenging for firefighters to enter the building.
“We have reached the fifth floor where our team is currently working. Our immediate goal is to bring the fire under control on the sixth and seventh floors. Due to the presence of electric lines and limited access points, it is challenging to enter the building,” Jashim Uddin said.
Jashim Uddin reported that approximately 25 workers have been safely rescued by his team. Fire fighters are continuing their rescue operation. The textile factory contains highly flammable materials, making it crucial to control the fire.
Law enforcement agencies, including police, army, navy, and industrial police, have cordoned off the area to prevent unnecessary crowds.
Deputy Director of Chattogram Fire Service, Mohammad Jasim Uddin, said that 15 fire service units are currently working at the scene.
In addition, one unit each from the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Army has joined the operation to help bring the fire under control.
