The Fire Service and Civil Defence has started an investigation to look into whether the fire incident at Mohammadpur Krishi Market is an accident or there is any sabotage behind it.
The massive fire, which broke out at the market early Thursday morning, is now under control.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said that an investigation committee will be formed in this incident.
He said this in response to questions from reporters after inspecting the fire control system in the market.
The fire service reached the spot after receiving the news and started working to control the fire. However, before reaching the spot, the fire spread to three quarters of the market.
“Keeping in mind that the fire should not spread from the market to the surrounding buildings, we started to control the fire and it took us quite some time to control the fire.”
“Water ran out quickly. Later we coordinated with Wasa and other organizations to ensure water supply,” said the official.
Tajul Islam said that the market had already been declared vulnerable. Extra voltage electricity was being used there. An investigation committee will be formed to investigate whether an electrical short circuit has been created due to excess electricity or there is anyone’s link behind the incident.
The official also claimed that the allegation that the fire service did not respond after calling is not true.
He said that the crowd of enthusiastic people created disruption in controlling fire.
“The market had been declared dangerous. We did fire control work as per our capacity. Other organizations will be able to say what measures they have taken in this regard. Although there is a storage capacity of 300 to 400 KW, electricity was being used with additional load. A danger of electrical short circuit remains if excess current is used after the specified load,” he added.
The fire broke out at the market around 3:43am and spread soon, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell).
Seventeen firefighting units are working to fully douse the blaze. It was brought under control around 9:25am.
Wasa, Bangladesh Air Force, Army, Navy, BGB, and police all assisted the fire service men
