Chawkbazar fire not under control even after four and a half hours; 10 units at work

The fire at the Mansur Khan Plaza in Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka, has not been brought under control even after four and a half hours. Currently, 10 units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence are working together to put out the blaze.

The fire broke out at 5:02 PM today, Monday, in a shop located on the sixth floor of the multi-story building known as Mansur Khan Plaza, situated next to the AC Mosque in the Chotokatra area of Chawkbazar. Fire service units have been working continuously to extinguish the fire up to 9:30 PM.

Upon receiving the report, the nearest fire station dispatched vehicles at 5:04 PM. Due to a distance of about two kilometers, heavy traffic, and narrow alleys, the first fire service unit reached the scene at 5:22 PM and immediately began firefighting operations. Gradually, a total of 10 units from the headquarters and the Lalbagh fire station joined the efforts to control the fire.

Fire service officials on duty at the scene stated that firefighters are facing extreme difficulties because there are no natural or permanent water sources in the congested area of Old Dhaka. They are making all-out efforts to extinguish the fire by pulling long hose pipes from a distance and using water-carrying vehicles.

Anwarul Islam, an official from the media cell of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, stated that 10 units were deployed to ensure an adequate response due to the lack of local water sources, with 7 units actively engaged in fighting the fire. He noted that the location consists entirely of warehouses, and since the shutters are locked, firefighters have to cut through them to control the fire, which is causing delays.

He added that no casualties have been reported so far, and it is not yet confirmed whether anyone is trapped inside the building. The extent of the damage and the exact cause of the fire are also currently unknown.