20 die as fire engulfs high-rise building in Dhaka

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Around 20 people lost their lives and 70 were injured after a deadly blaze engulfed a high rise building in the Banani area here on Thursday.

Fire Service Deputy Director Dilip Kumar Ghosh told Dhaka Tribune that a few people leaped to their deaths in panic after the fire started on Thursday afternoon.

A Sri Lankan national, Niras Chandra, was amongst the people who jumped off the building. He was declared dead at Kurmitola General Hospital.

The fire official said that the building had narrow staircases and lacked firefighting capacities, which hampered the people from rushing to safety.

300 firefighters were deployed to confine the fire, he added. Moreover, hundreds of people were rescued from the building, as the injured were rushed to hospitals.

The fire, which broke out of Thursday afternoon, was brought under control by fire officials by the evening.

Meanwhile, an eight-member probe committee has been formed to look into the tragic incident. It comprises of representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the fire service, Dhaka deputy commissioner's office, Dhaka North City Corporation, the police, and is led by a senior secretary from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

The Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, police and Fire Service Department were all present at the scene to help in rescue and containing efforts.

However, eyewitnesses have claimed that fire service personnel arrived late at the site of the incident, leading to the fire growing out of control.

Several remain critically injured following the deadly blaze. Further information is awaited.