When you can't escape death

A student of Dhaka University (DU), among 70 others, has been killed in a devastating fire that broke out in the city’s Chawkabazar area.

The deceased is Hafez Kawsar, a final year student of DU’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) department. 

Kawsar is survived by his wife, Mukta, and 11-month-old twins, Sara and Kafi.

Kawsar—along with five others—was at a dental clinic situated on the ground floor of a building that was completely gutted by the fire.

All six of them were burned alive. 


Also Read- Firefighters searching for bodies, sweeping area for explosives


Hafez’s wife, Mukta, burst into tears while visiting her husband’s body at the Dhaka Medical College University (DMCH) morgue on Thursday morning. 

She refused to speak to reporters about her reaction.    

The massive fire engulfed several multi-storey buildings at Nanda Kumar Lane in Chawkbazar’s Churihatta area of Old Dhaka on Wednesday night. 

Hafez Kawsar, a final year student of DU’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) department | Collected

According to the Fire Service control room, a total of 37 units from 31 stations worked to douse the blaze.

The bodies, of 67 people burned to death in the fire, have been taken to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) morgue. The death toll might rise.


Also Read- 67 bodies of Chawkbazar fire victims at DMCH


Among the recovered bodies, 58 are male, five are female, and the rest are children, confirmed Muradul Islam, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Chawkbazar police station. 

He said so far, they have been able to identify 19 of the victims. Hafez is one of them. 

Awami League General Secretary and also Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has stated the government will provide its full assistance to survivors of the Chawkbazar fire and the families of the deceased.