Mahfuz Anam, a 24-year-old master’s student of Political Science at Dhaka University (DU) was going by rickshaw towards Rahmatganj road from campus, using the Churihatta intersection of Chawkbazar on Wednesday.
“All the vehicles from Urdu Road, Dail Potti, Chawkbazar, Haji Bari and Lalbagh fort roads, were at a standstill at that place around 10pm,” said Mahfuz to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday.
There was a huge gridlock as all the vehicles of five roads were stuck trying to cross the intersection.
Seeing no movements of vehicles on the street, Mahfuz left his rickshaw and started walking as his destination was not far away. After walking for five minutes, he heard a huge blast, and electricity in the area went out.
“People thought that it was the sound of an electric transformer perhaps, but after a while I got to understand that it was something else after noticing fire fumes. I immediately went back towards the place where I got off from the rickshaw. What I saw was a massive fire,” Mahfuz said.
“I was only thinking about the rickshaw puller who brought me there. He (the rickshaw puller) wanted to go home as he had not met his family since last Eid on August 22, last year. The man, pulling his rickshaw, was expressing grave concern about his children’s studies to me, and that he wanted to give them the opportunity to learn.”
The DU student further said: “I am also thinking about the parents with their newborn child, who were just beside my rickshaw.”
“Somehow luck has favoured me and I am still alive,” Mahfuz added.
“Fire fighting units took at least 30-40 minutes to reach the place, as all the lanes were congested,” Mahfuz further added.