Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Investigation committee did not find any case of short circuit and sabotage behind the devastating fire that broke out in the capital's Bangabazar market on April 4.
According to eyewitnesses and market guards, the lights inside the market were still on after the fire, which is usually not happened in the cases of short circuit.
Besides, the electricity distribution box was 55 yards away from where the smoke was coming out on the third floor of the fire site.
Quoting the security guards of the markets, a member of the committee said that the electricity connection of two markets was switched off from 11pm to 7am before the fire.
At that time, electricity was only in the living spaces of the guards, the mosque and the office of the complex.
Besides, the Wi-Fi router was on.
The official, wishing anonymity, said: “After talking to the witnesses, security guards and electricians, it was learnt that the Adorsho unit has a fourth floor. The fire started from the third floor of the unit. The second floor has an embroidery factory while the third floor has a clothing storage godown.”
Security guards lived on the fourth floor. Since the market as well as the floor was made of wood, they first saw the smoke coming out of gap in the wood at about 5:50am.
On the other hand, the DSCC investigation committee member said that there is no possibility of sabotage behind the fire incident. The place from where the fire originated is very near to police headquarters and far away from the main road. Usually the vandals won't come that far in.
“They'll try to get out of one of the safe places by doing something. Where they can easily get out and nobody will see. But it was not possible to leave this place easily. So the investigation committee is not thinking about sabotage.”
DSCC's investigation report to be submitted on Tuesday
Merina Naznin, Regional Executive Officer-01 and a member of the investigation committee, said that the work of our investigation report has been completed. Now they are waiting for the casualty list of mahanagar units affected traders.
“We hope to submit the investigation report on Tuesday.”
Home ministry's investigation underway
Ministry of Home Affairs also formed an investigation committee to probe the fire incident
The investigation of the committee is still going on, according to a committee member.
The investigation report is supposed to be submitted within 10 days of the incident.
Fire service's committee started investigation on Sunday
Deputy Director of Fire Service (Dhaka) Dinmoni Sharma said, "Our investigation started on Sunday. It is expected to be submitted within seven working days. The investigation is still ongoing. So nothing can be said yet.”
The investigation committee of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) primarily suspects that burning cigarettes or mosquito coils on the fourth floor of the Adarsha unit of Bangabazar clothing market may have caused the massive fire that razed around 5,000 shops on April 4.
A member of the investigation committee confirmed the information on Monday afternoon.
At least 5,000 businessmen were reportedly affected by the fire at the Bangabazar market. The fire caused an estimated loss of Tk2,000 crore.
The fire at Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka was completely doused three days after the incident on April 4.
The devastating blaze also spread to some other nearby markets, burning several thousand shops, mainly ready-made garment and footwear stores, to ashes. The blaze made thousands of traders paupers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
A total of six adjacent markets were also burnt.
The other six markets are--Gulistan Market, Annex tower, Mohanagar shopping complex, Adarsha market, Banga Islami Market and Barisal Plaza.
