As Dhaka celebrated the start of a new year, two incidents of fire broke out in the capital on Wednesday.
The fire service received reports of a fire in Mirpur and behind the LabAid Hospital in Dhanmondi.
The fire in Mirpur occurred in a dustbin and the one in Dhanmondi took place in a shop. The fire service suspects that the fire may have originated from a sky lantern.
On early Wednesday, the duty officer of the fire service control room, Rafi Al-Faruk, confirmed the incident.
He said that the fire in Mirpur was extinguished before the fire service reached the spot.
Meanwhile, two fire service units worked to control the fire in Dhanmondi. After about half an hour of effort, the fire was brought under control.
Rafi Al-Faruk said: “At 12:37am on Wednesday, we received a report that a fire had occurred in a dustbin in Mirpur 11. When our two units were on their way to the spot, we received information that the fire had been put out.”
He further mentioned: “At 12:25am, we received news that a fire had broken out in a motor parts shop behind the LabAid Hospital in Dhanmondi. Two fire service units were dispatched to the site. By 1:55am, the fire was controlled. Initially, it is believed that the fire started from a sky lantern and spread to the shop.”
Despite police restrictions, the residents of the city again set off firecrackers and sky lanterns with loud noises. Fireworks and lanterns were seen flying in the skies of Dhaka before midnight. As a result, like previous years, incidents of fire occurred again this year.
Meanwhile, during the New Year celebration, two children were injured while setting off fireworks and flying sky lanterns. They were treated at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute. One of the children, Farhan, 8, suffered burns to 15% of his body and was admitted to the hospital.
Another child received primary treatment and was released. However, the exact details of the incidents are not yet known. Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, the residential medical officer of the Emergency Department of the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, confirmed the matter.
On Wednesday, it was reported from the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute that two children were treated at the hospital for burns caused by setting off firecrackers to celebrate the new year.
According to the families of the injured children, Dr Shawon Bin Rahman confirmed that the burns occurred as a result of setting off firecrackers on the streets to welcome the new year.
