Restaurateur held over Chawkbazar fire

Police have arrested the owner of ‘Barishal Hotel and Restaurant’ in connection with the deadly fire incident that left six people killed in Kamalbagh area of Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar on Monday.

Md Jafor Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Lalbagh division, confirmed the matter and said Mohammad Fakhruddin was arrested at Keraniganj early Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court granted Fakhruddin a one-day remand after police placed him before the court.

He also said that brother of one of the deceased Mohammad Ali filed a case against the building and hotel owner accusing him of carelessly keeping the gas cylinder, which caused the fire. Ali claimed that one of the deceased is his brother Rubel. 

Jafor Hossain said they will interrogate Fakhruddin in remand and the investigation will proceed.

Asked about the causes of fire, he said that it is a matter of experts. Fire service and other organisations are there and they can investigate it and tell the real facts.

He said initially they came to know that the fire originated from an explosion of a gas cylinder.

Asked about handing over bodies to their relative, The DMP DC said that the DNA sample have been collected from those who claimed the dead bodies.

“We will hand over bodies after getting the DNA test report. Until then the bodies will be kept at the morgue, he said.