Staff Reporter :
A devastating fire broke out at 14-storey BTI Premium Plaza in the city’s Uttar Badda area in the small hours of Wednesday leaving at least 10 persons injured.
The fire fighters rescued more than 100 residents of the building, mostly children and women, during their around three-hour operation. Everyone was evacuated safely from the building without major causality, the fire officials told The New Nation.
Apart from it, over 200 residents of the building were stranded on the roof top for almost three hours until the flames were doused. Most of them were residents of the upper floors who went to rooftop to save themselves.
The multi-storied plaza consists of three interconnected buildings, all 14-storied. Besides, the building housed several shops, including some furniture, from the ground floor up to third floor, while the rest is residential apartments.
Duty Officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence [FSCD] control room Ataur Rahman said the fire erupted at the building at about 3:00 am. Later, the fire engulfed ground to fourth floor of the two buildings.
A total of 28 fire-fighting units from different city stations rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control at about 5:50 am, he said.
Quoting witnesses, the authorities said that the fire originated at a furniture shop on the first floor around 3 am and as everyone was awake for Seheri the fire was quickly spotted.
Inspector [investigation] Badda Police Station Delwar Hossain said, “Some senior residents of the building have been admitted to hospitals due to respiratory problems caused by the smoke.”
Meanwhile, a five-member committee led by Deputy Director of the FSCD Mozammel Haque has been formed to investigate the fire incident.
The fire service officials said, unplanned and faulty construction of 14-storey building in a small lane caused huge sufferings to the fire fighters. There is no modern fire fighting system and even water supply line to fight the flames.
Owner of the building claimed that they have got full clearance from RAJUK and other departments before starting constructing of the building.
Meanwhile, the Badda fire was second incident in a high-rise building in a span of four days.
Earlier on Friday, six persons, including one woman and two children, were killed in a devastating fire that broke out at high-rise Aluddin Tower near Rajlaksmi area in the city’s Uttara sector-4. At least 25 persons, including three of a same family, were also injured in the incident.
