Fire breaks out at country’s first July Martyrs Memorial
Fire at the July Martyrs Memorial in Narayanganj. Collected photo.
A fire broke out at the country’s first July Martyrs Memorial, built in Narayanganj to preserve the memory of those who were martyred during the July Mass Uprising. The fire started around 3 am Monday on a cloth covered boundary surrounding the memorial in Fatullah. However, the fire was brought under control immediately, preventing any damage to the main memorial.
The Hajiganj Police Outpost is located about 30 yards from the scene.
Fatullah Model Police Station Officer in Charge Mahbub Alam said, “There is a cloth covered boundary beside the July Martyrs Memorial. There was also a pile of garbage outside it. Someone managed to set the garbage on fire during the night without being noticed by the police, and the flames spread to the cloth covering the boundary. Police officers on duty brought the fire under control immediately. However, the main memorial did not sustain any damage in the incident.”
Additional Superintendent of Police for Crime Tarek Al Mehdi said, “Around 3 am, someone carried out this incident without being noticed by the police officers on duty. I am going to inspect the scene after learning about the incident. The full details can be shared after the investigation.”
However, Additional Superintendent of Police of Narayanganj Circle A Shamim Hossain said he was not aware of the incident.
Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Executive Officer S. M. Fayez Uddin commented, “I came to know about the matter just a short while ago. It has not yet been confirmed how the fire started or who was responsible. The administration is investigating the matter.”
Deputy Assistant Director of Narayanganj Fire Service Abdullah Al Arefin said, “No one informed us about the fire.”
District Commissioner Md. Raihan Kabir said over the phone, “I am in Dhaka attending a meeting and was not aware of it. I am looking into the matter.”
The country’s first July Martyrs Memorial was inaugurated on July 14, 2025, in the Hajiganj area of Fatullah in the presence of five advisers to the interim government.
On July 16 this year, marking July Martyrs Day, Narayanganj 4 lawmaker Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan, District Council Administrator Professor Mamun Mahmud, Narayanganj Development Authority Chairman Mashukul Islam Rajib, along with leaders of the BNP, Jamaat e Islami, the NCP, and various social organizations paid tribute at the memorial.
