Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon has officially called off the rescue mission for victims of the Chawkbazar fire.
Khokon called it off around 12:45pm on Thursday. However, three units of the Fire Service will remain on standby to ensure the area remains safe from potential further hazards.
He also said after a meeting on last Monday with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and chemical industry owners, a decision was taken to conduct mobile courts to remove chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka.
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However, the fire in Chawkbazar broke out before the decision could be implemented, Khokon said.
On Wednesday night's massive fire—that spread from a gas cylinder explosion in a grocery shop, to multiple chemical warehouses, to several multi-storey buildings at Nanda Kumar Lane in Chawkbazar’s Churihatta—was finally doused on Thursday morning, Fire Service and Civil Defence officials confirmed.
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As of now, the fire has claimed 70 lives, and numerous injured people are being treated at nearby hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (Mitford Hospital). However, the death toll may rise.
The mayor has assured the mobile court drives to shut down godowns will be conducted in future, with the help of law enforcement.
