Fire at city high-rise

A twelve-storey building named Rahat Tower, a residential-cum-commercial space in the Bangla Motor area in the city, caught fire yesterday morning.   The fire started at around 7:50am on the eighth floor of the building and soon spread. On information, firefighters rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control around 8:15am.   Officials of Fire Service and Civil Defence said the blaze originated from Patriot Trade Corporation Limited. No one was hurt in the incident.   Three fire engines from the fire service headquarters and two engines from Tejgaon unit rushed to the spot. The firefighters suspected that the flames originated from an electric short circuit. Kazi Nojmujjaman, an official of the fire station, said the flames burnt rice, dal, wheat and some other stationary goods that were stored on the floor.   Major Mahbubur Rahman, director (administration) of fire service, said the building was a faultily designed one with only one narrow stairway and no fire escape. Firefighters faced difficulties in reaching the floor. Besides, the building had no fire fighting equipment, showing the clear negligence of the authorities. The wires which caught fire were hidden in the false ceiling of the floor. The place has not been wiped up for years. So, dust made the wires weak and the plastic coat on the wires got leakages, he added.   “We will form a committee to investigate into the matter,” Mahbubur said.