4:04pm- 13 hours on, the fire seems under control but yet to be extinguished completely.3:30pm- Meanwhile in DhakaIn pictures: Gulshan #DCC market blaze https://t.co/T0Kok5XzyR via @DhakaTribune #DT #Bangladesh
— DhakaTribune (@DhakaTribune) January 3, 2017
5.5 magnitude-tremor shakes Dhaka https://t.co/n5ZkAmNVlR via @DhakaTribune #DT #Bangladesh— DhakaTribune (@DhakaTribune) January 3, 20172:28pm- MS Islam, fireman of Bangladesh Navy's Hazi Mohshin Fire Brigade, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Two firefighting units from the Navy and 20 units from the Fire Service have been working to douse the blaze since 4am.”2:00pm- While revisiting the spot, DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq said: "The fire is under control but we have not been able to completely extinguish it yet."Denying a claim about city corporation and Metro Group being involved in the fire, he said: "It is just their claim. It is not true. Talk to the shop owners about it."1:37pm- Association Chairman Sher Mohammad retracted his earlier statement about losses being around Tk4,000 crore and said: "It would be around Tk500-600 crore."12:41pm- Local MP AKM Rahmatullah told the Dhaka Tribune: “We will sit with the shop owners and city corporation officials in the evening and form a probe body. "When asked whether it was a pre-planned attack, he said: “Investigation team will find it out.”12:20pm- Robiul Islam Rubel, owner of an electronic shop at Gulshan Shopping Centre adjacent to the DNCC market, said: “A few shops were affected when the damaged building of the kitchen market tilted slightly towards it.” However, he claims that if they fire is not brought under control soon, the Gulshan Shopping Centre might also catch fire.11:40am- NHRC Chairman Kazi Reazul Huq visits spot. He says the fire incident must be investigated by a joint committee of police, fire service, DNCC and traders. “Stern action must be taken against those responsible if the incident is found to be an arson attack.
Part of the damage done by the fire at DNCC Kitchen market Arifur Rahman Rabbi/Dhaka Tribune“If not a planned attack, the authorities must bring to book the officials whose negligence led to the fire.”
The NHRC boss says the government should compensate the affected traders.11:05am- Police chief AKM Shahidul Hoque and DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah visit the spot. The DMP chief says they are trying to douse the fire first, and will look into the allegation of sabotage later.10:30am- Fire has spread over the DNCC Super Market damaging the shops. The kitchen market collapsed earlier. The six-storey Gulshan Shopping Centre adjacent to the site has been evacuated.
Traders seen evacuating commodities to safety Arifur Rahman Rabbi/Dhaka Tribune10:10am- A vehicle from the Navy arrives at the spot, reports Abu Hayat Mahmud.9:55am- Shop Owners’ Association Secretary Abul Kashem claims they have suffered a loss worth Tk4,000 crore in the fire.“The authorities must allocate us new plots; otherwise, we will take to the street.”
A man looks on at the destruction laid down by the fire Arifur Rahman Rabbi/Dhaka Tribune9:50am- Kashem tells the Dhaka Tribune: “We are 100% sure that gunpowder was used to set fire to the market; otherwise, the building would not have collapsed. Metro Group is involved in the arson attack. They are trying to build a new establishment here and got the tender for the construction in 2010.”9:45am- Association Chairman Sher Mohammad tells the Dhaka Tribune: “It was a pre-planned attack. The authorities of Metro Group and Dhaka North City Corporation hired miscreants to torch the market.”
Firefighters trying to douse the blaze at DNCC market in Gulsha on January 3, 2017 Arifur Rahman Rabbi/Dhaka Tribune9:40am- Shop Owners’ Association Chairman Sher Mohammad claims most of the 328 shops have been damaged in the fire.8:50am- Fire service and Civil Defences Duty Officer Ataur Rahman told Dhaka tribune that 22 units are working to douse the blaze. He also confirms that a part of buildings has collapsed.8:35am- The mayor says the fire spread quickly due to availability of inflammable products like furniture, cosmetics and plastics.
It might have originated from an electric short circuit, he says.
A birdseye view of the DCC market as efforts underway to bring the blaze under control Courtesy8:30am- DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq visits the spot. He acknowledges that lack of adequate water supply had caused delay in dousing the fire.
Asked about allegations by some traders that it was an arson attack, the mayor says it was the police’s duty to find the reason. “However, we are 99% sure that it is an accident.”
A social media post shows smokes bellowing from a part of the Gulshan's DNCC market. Collected from Facebook8:20am- Different parts of the building collapsed in at least three phases since morning, several TV channels report.7:45am- Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy Director Samar Chandra Biswas said: “We have brought the blaze under control in one side of the market but having difficulties on the other side as it has many furniture and cosmetics shops.”5:00am- Gulshan police Inspector (Investigation) Salaudin said: “There was a little delay in starting the work as there was scarcity of water which made the work difficult for us. The traders panicked due to the delay in the work.
“Police have brought the situation under control.”4:45am- Shop owners and staff have engaged in brawls with the fire fighters several times. The fire was pre-planned to evict the shops, claims Food shop owner Julhas Hossain.3:50am- Momin Morshed, owner of Hazi Furniture at the DNCC market, said: “I have lost everything in the fire.”3:30am- Fire Service and Civil Defence control room operator Mohammad Babul Mia told the Dhaka Tribune that reasons behind the fire could not be detected as of yet.3:15am- Fire Service and Civil Defence control room Operator Mohammad Babul Mia says 16 units are currently working to douse the fire.2:30am- Massive fire breaks out at the DNCC market in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, Fire Service and Civil Defence control room Operator Mohammad Babul Mia confirms the Dhaka Tribune.