A Dhaka court on Monday placed Md Iman Ullah, also known as Mastan (50), on a three-day remand in connection with a case filed over a deadly fire at a gas lighter factory in Kadamtali area of Keraniganj.
Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Tanvir Ahmed passed the remand order following a hearing.
Police arrested the accused on April 5 from the Kadamtali area of South Keraniganj. He was produced before the court on the same day, when the investigating officer Sub-Inspector Md Rafiqul Islam of Keraniganj Police Station sought a 10-day remand for interrogation.
The court initially sent him to jail and fixed Monday for the hearing on the remand petition.
According to the case statement, a massive fire broke out on April 4 at a gas lighter factory near Kadamtali Golchattar in Keraniganj. Preliminary findings by the Fire Service indicate that the blaze may have originated from flammable materials or raw components used in gas lighters stored inside the factory.
At least six people were killed in the incident, while several others sustained burn injuries and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, with some reported to be in critical condition. Seven units of the Fire Service worked for about one and a half hours to bring the fire under control.
The case alleges that the accused was the mastermind behind the factory’s operations, which were reportedly being run illegally storing hazardous combustible materials. Investigators believe further interrogation may help uncover crucial details about the incident and identify other individuals involved.
During the hearing, defense lawyers sought cancellation of the remand and requested bail for the accused, while the prosecution opposed the plea. After hearing both sides, the court granted a three-day remand.
In connection with the incident, Sub-Inspector Md Jewel Rana of the South Keraniganj Police Station filed a case against three individuals, including Iman Ullah. The other two accused are Md Akram Ullah Akram, the owner of the factory, and his son Ahnaf Akif Akram.