Fire in a Madrasa Library at Fatullah: 48 students hospitalized, three critical

A fire broke out in the library of a madrasa in Fatullah, Narayanganj. At that time, 48 students fell ill from the smoke and were admitted to local hospitals. Among them, the condition of three is critical.

The three injured are Yusuf (18), Khairul (22), and Zobayer (18). They have been taken to the ICU of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

The fire broke out at 1:55 a.m. early Tuesday in the library located on the second floor of the five-storey building of Jamia Ashrafia Madrasa in Shantidhara, Signboard area of Fatullah. The fire was completely extinguished at around 3:43 a.m.

Dr. Sultan Mahmud Shikder, Resident Surgeon (RS) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said that so far 48 students have been brought to the emergency department of the institute in the fire incident. Among them, three have been kept in the ICU as their condition is critical. One is being given ventilator support. Necessary treatment is ongoing for the affected students.

According to preliminary information, students of the Qitab Department of the madrasa were sleeping at night. At that time, a fire broke out in the library on the second floor. As the smoke spread, the sleeping students suffered breathing difficulties and smoke-related respiratory tract injuries. Later, with the assistance of madrasa teachers and others, they were rescued and taken to hospital.

Shahjahan, Duty Officer of Narayanganj Fire Service, said that upon receiving news of the fire at 1:55 a.m., four units of the Fire Service went to the scene. Later, the fire was extinguished at 3:44 a.m. The library on the second floor of the building was burnt in the fire. The students undergoing treatment at the hospital also mentioned this in their statements.