Fire kills 11, injures 7 in Dhaka

DHAKA, Nov 18, 2012 (BSS)- Eleven people, including three members of a family, died and seven others injured in a fire at Boubazar slum in city's Hazaribagh area early today.

The fire service control room source said they recovered the
bodies of a mother and two children of a family and other eight
persons including four children and four women. The fire also
caused injuries to seven others.

The deceased were identified as Helena, 40, and her two
children Aklima, 10, and Rakib, 3, and Abdul, 8, Munni, 25, and
his daughter Meem, 2, Ayesha, 30, Julia, 5, Suraiya, 25, Moyna,
13, and an unknown 40-year-old woman.

The fire might have originated from a mosquito coil at about
3 am that engulfed the whole area, said Jahirul Amin, deputy
director of fire service and civil defense of Dhaka Division.

He said the fire fighters brought the blaze under control in
the morning. As many as 100 slum houses were burnt in the fire,
he added.

The bodies of the victims were sent to Dhaka Medical College
Hospital (DMCH) where at least seven people got treatment for
severe burn injuries, said hospital sources.

In the morning, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives
Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanok rushed to the scene, talked to the
fire-affected slum dwellers and informed the matter to the prime
minister.

Later, local lawmaker Barrister Fazley Noor Taposh visited
the spot followed by Communications Minister Obaidul Quader,
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Railways Minister Md. Mazibul
Hoque, and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Abul Hasan
Mahamood Ali.

Home Minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, State Minister for
Home Affairs Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku and Inspector General of
Police Hasan Mahmud Khandaker also visited the scene.

After visiting, the home minister told newsmen that the fire
caused irreparable losses and the incident reportedly happened
due to carelessness.

The minister said a probe body would be formed to look into
the fire incident.

Alamgir said being informed the fire fighters rushed to the
scene and extinguished the blaze under control and conducted
rescue operation.

The home minister said the government has undertaken
initiatives to set up 156 new Fire Stations across the country to
minimize fire incidents.

President Md Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
expressed deep shock at the loss of lives and properties in the
fire in Hazaribagh area early today.

In a message of condolence, the President prayed to the
almighty Allah for eternal peace of the departed souls and
conveyed deep sympathy to the members of bereaved families.

He also prayed for early recovery of the injured people and
asked the concerned authority to provide better treatment to
them.

PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said at the directives
of the prime minister authorities concerned have already launched
relief operation and distribution of food, clothes and medicine
among the victims.

The prime minister also asked the authorities to make a list
of the affected persons for their rehabilitation, the press
secretary said.

Sheikh Hasina said the fire incidents are a common
phenomenon in our country during winter season due to
carelessness of people.

"We can avoid such incidents if we remain careful in
handling oven, inflammable substances, electric switch and
smoking in this dry season," she noted.

The prime minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed
souls and conveyed sympathy to the members of the bereaved
families.

After visiting the affected area, the disaster management
and relief minister said Taka 20 thousand will be donated to each
deceased family, Taka three thousand and 30 kg rice to each
affected family, light foods from prime minister relief fund,
sharee, lungi, blankets and tent will also be given.

From Dhaka City Corporation, South, each deceased family
will be donated taka 10 thousand and foods of three days will be
given.

District Administrator Sheikh Yusuf Harun said from the
administration taka three thousand, sharee and lungi will be
donated to every deceased family.