Shoe factory fire in Old Dhaka kills 5

At least five workers died and two got injured in a deadly fire that broke out at a shoe factory in Old Dhaka’s Kamalbag area in the early hours of Friday.

The media cell of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence confirmed the matter to the media in a press release, adding that the fire started around 1am at Rumana Rubber Industries factory and began to spread.

After receiving information about the incident at around 1:15am, the fire service officials arrived at the spot at 1:22am. Eight units brought the blaze under control around 3am.

Five workers burned and suffocated to death while sleeping in the shoe factory’s second floor, while two got injured after jumping to escape the flames, the release said.

The fire service has sent the bodies of dead victims to Sir Salimullah Medical College. The injured are also receiving treatment there.

Providing more details, local resident Mohammad Khokan Mia said, “The factory used to manufacture Burmese and sponge shoes. Its floors were filled with drums filled with rubber, plastic and chemicals.

“The fire broke out due to the combustible substances kept inside the factory premises.”

However, Senior Staff Officer Md Shahjahan Sikder of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department said the cause behind the fire has not been identified yet. “We will find out about the cause and amount of losses following an investigation.”