Locals fear that over 180 people might be missing after the fire incident in Gazi Tyre Manufacturing Factory in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj. Relatives of many gathered anxiously in front of the charred building on Tuesday as authorities scrambled to assess the damage and search for survivors.
The fire, which broke out on Sunday night and raged for 33 hours, was finally extinguished around 5 am on Tuesday. The six-story factory building remains in a precarious state, with firefighters warning that it could collapse at any moment, hampering rescue efforts.
The building is too unstable to enter and conduct a thorough rescue operation, said Anwarul Haque, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defense. “Despite dousing the flames, the building still radiates heat, and its structure has tilted dangerously.”
In response to the incident, the local administration formed an eight-member committee, led by Additional Deputy Manager Hamidur Rahman, to investigate the cause of the fire. The committee has been given ten days to submit its findings, according to Deputy Commissioner Mahmudul Haque.
As the authorities grapple with the aftermath, the desperation of the family members gathered outside the factory grows.
Attempts to conduct a search operation using a turntable ladder (TTL) on the roof of the factory yielded no results, with no injured individuals found, Anwarul Haque added.
Mahmudul Haque also stated that the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) has been tasked with compiling a list of those involved in the incident, promising that action will be taken against those responsible for the blaze.
Saiful Islam, Manager of Gazi Tyre Company, said that several hundred people stormed the factory on Sunday morning, confining security guards and other staff before setting the building on fire. He noted that the factory, which employed between 2,000 and 3,000 workers, had suspended production on August 5, and claimed that no workers were inside during the fire.
Islam estimated the financial loss from the fire at around Tk 8,000 crore.
