The investigation into the deadly fire at a building at Bailey Road in Dhaka, which claimed 46 lives, remains incomplete even two years after the incident.
A total of 46 people, including 20 men, 18 women and eight children, were killed in the blaze, while 75 others were rescued alive from the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage building.
Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Ramna Model police station filed a case in connection with the incident.
After initially being handled by the local police, the investigation was later handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Although investigators could not specify when the probe would be completed, they said they would try to submit the report as soon as possible.
So far, the investigating agency has sought time 17 times to place the investigation report before the court. The latest deadline was set for February 26, but on that day, the investigating officer, CID Inspector Shahjalal Munshi, failed to submit the report.
Consequently, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana fixed April 19 as the next date for submission of the report, Prosecution Division Sub-Inspector Jinnat Ali said.
Eleven people were arrested in connection with the case. However, as the investigation continues to face delays, all the accused are now out on bail.
The accused are—Kacchi Bhai restaurant owner Sohel Siraj; staff Jain Uddin Jisan; Abdullah Al Matin of Fuoco chain restaurant; Mohor Ali Palash; the two owners of the ground-floor tea and coffee shop “Chumuk”, Anwarul Haque and Shafiqul Rahman Rimon; space owner Iqbal Hossain Kawsar; Munshi Hasibul Alam Bipul, who was responsible for overseeing the building; Nazrul Islam, Anwar Hossain and Forhad.
CID explains delay, lawyers reject allegations
When contacted, the investigating officer, CID Inspector Shahjalal Munshi, said efforts were underway to complete the investigation as quickly as possible.
“We have already collected some information and data. A few documents are still pending, which we expect to receive shortly,” he said.
Explaining the delay, he said information from several units was not received on time. “We have sought reports from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and the Amin Mohammad Group, but those have not yet been provided. These are documentary issues, and the investigation report must be prepared on the basis of such documents,” he said, adding that once the materials are received, the CID would move to submit the report to the court at the earliest.
Taslima Minu, lawyer for Kacchi Bhai restaurant owner Sohel Siraj, said her client bore no responsibility for the incident, claiming the fire did not originate from their restaurant but from the ground floor.
“There was no negligence on our part. Instead, three staff members of Kacchi Bhai died while trying to rescue others,” she said.
She added that there was cash in the restaurant on the day of the incident and not a single Taka was burned. “The money was seized in the case and later returned to us through the court,” she said, also calling for a proper investigation.
Meanwhile, Md Anisuzzaman, lawyer for accused Munshi Hamimul Islam Bipul, said they wanted a fair and proper investigation into the case.
“Those who are truly responsible for the fire must be identified through a proper investigation and brought to justice. All innocent persons should be acquitted,” he said.
Referring to the allegation against his client, Anisuzzaman said Hamimul Islam was in no way involved in the incident and reiterated that only the real offenders should be brought under the law.
What the case statement says
According to the case statement, at around 9:45pm on February 29,2024, a gas cylinder explosion occurred at a restaurant named “Chumuk” on the ground floor of the building.
The explosion triggered a fire and thick smoke, which spread rapidly to different floors of the Green Cozy Cottage building.
Panic broke out among the people who had come to the restaurants and shops, as well as among employees inside the premises.
People were seen screaming and running in an attempt to escape the flames, while a large number of onlookers gathered around the building.
Within a short time, several units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, along with senior police officers and multiple police teams from different units and police lines, arrived at the scene.
Firefighters tried to bring the fire under control and carried out rescue operations using lifts, cranes and other equipment to rescue people trapped inside the building.
Preliminary information suggests that the building owner and the manager rented out several restaurants and shops without proper approval from the relevant authorities. The restaurants used gas cylinders and stoves for cooking without adequate safety arrangements.
It is alleged that, in collusion with the building owner and manager, the owners of Chumuk Fast Food, Kacchi Bhai Restaurant, Mezbani Restaurant, Khanas Flagship, Street Oven, Jetty, Hakka Dhaka, Faisal Juice Bar (Burger), Waffel Bay, Tawaj, Pizza Inn, Fuoco and Edroshia stored a large number of gas cylinders on the ground floor of the building and used the cylinders and stoves in a negligent, reckless and dangerous manner.
The fire originated when gas cylinders stored for cooking at the ground-floor restaurants exploded. The resulting heat and dense smoke quickly spread throughout the building, suffocating occupants on different floors and causing multiple deaths and serious injuries.
Those killed in the fire include Buet student Nahian Amin; journalist Abishruti Shastri, also known as Brishti Khatun; Fauzia Afrin Riya; Popy Roy; Ashraful Islam Asif; Nazia Akter; Arham Mostafa Ahmed; Nurul Islam; Shampa Saha; Shanto Hossain; Maisha Kabir Mahi; Mehera Kabir Dola; Brac University student Jannati Tajrin Nikita; Lutfun Nahar Karim, an English teacher at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College; Mohammad Jihad; Kamrul Hasan; Didarul Haque; Advocate Ataur Rahman Shamim; Mehedi Hasan; Nusrat Jahan Shimu; Italy expatriate Syed Mobarak Kawsar; his wife Swapna Akter; son Syed Abdullah; daughters Syeda Fatema Tuz Johora and Syeda Amena Akter Nur; Jarin Tasnim Priti, Jewel Gazi, Ruby Roy, her daughter Priyanka Roy, Tushar Hawlader, KM Minhaj Uddin, Sagar, Tanzila Nawrin, Shipon, Alisa, Sankalpa San, Lamisha Islam, daughter of Additional DIG Nasirul Islam, and Naim.
