Staff Reporter :
Fireman Sohel Rana, who was critically injured during rescue operation at the FR Tower fire, died at the Singapore General Hospital early Monday.
The huge fire broke out on the 22-storey building at Banani commercial in Dhaka on March 28 prompting responses from the city’s fire department as well as the fire rescue teams.
Firefighters in their heroic efforts rescued dozens trapped inside the building and brought control the deadly blaze that killed 27 and injured 70 others.
Sohel Rana was among the firefighters who were bringing down trapped people on the ground through a ladder.
As the ladder overloaded with survivors at the second rescue attempt, Rana took position on ladder steps. But he got trapped there and his legs were broken when the ladder was getting folded to drop survivors. A broken bone also pierced his stomach when he fell down from the ladder leaving him firefighter critically injured, said firefighters.
Sohel Rana was admitted to Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH). As his condition continued to deteriorate, he was flown to Singapore by an air ambulance on April 5 following the directive from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He fought hard for survival for the last 11 days and lost the battle for life at the Singapore General Hospital at around 2.17am (Bangladesh Time).
Sohels’ body will be brought back to Dhaka at 10:40pm (Monday) by a flight of Singapore Airlines, Major AKM Shakil Newaz, Director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence told The New Nation.
He said the body will be kept at the mortuary of Dhaka CMH and later to be taken to his village home at Chouganga in Itna Upazila of Kishoreganj district.
“This is a sad day for the Department. The firefighting community is mourning the loss of a firefighter who died for saving lives of people,” said Shakil Newaz.
“Sohel Rana set an example. We are humbled by his dedication, and we will always remember his sacrifice. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family,” he added.
Sohel Rana was a member of the Kurmitola Fire Station.
He had been a part of the Fire Department for the last three years. Sohel Rana left behind his parents and three brothers and one sister. His father Nurul Islam (65) is a farmer.
