Wednesday’s fire in the Chawkbazar area of Old Dhaka was the result of a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder explosion, and unrelated to any chemical warehouses, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun has said.
According to the minister, the LPG cylinder was being delivered to the area on a truck, when a transformer blew and caused it to explode.
“The fire had nothing to do with a chemical warehouse. There was no chemical warehouse on the ground floor of the building where the fire spread to first, although a perfume and cosmetics warehouse was located there,” he said while visiting the site of the fire on Thursday.
Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said it was yet to be confirmed whether the LPG cylinder that allegedly started the fire had been on a car or in a building.
Furthermore, Quader pointed out that the fire may have spread quickly due to the presence of chemical compounds stored in buildings in the area.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Fire Service and Civil Defence officials also said the cause of the fire is yet to be discerned.
Flammable chemicals stored in the area, such as those found in perfume, caused the blaze to spread at a rapid rate, they added.
While visiting the spot of the incident, Inspector General of Police Javed Patwary told reporters a chemical warehouse was located in the building where the fire spread to first.
