A person injured in the fire that broke out at the Daulatpur depot in Khulna’s Khalishpur industrial area died yesterday, raising the death toll to three. Rubel, 32, the victim, died at the burn unit of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH)

Earlier, two people died in the blaze that broke out last Monday at the depot, which is operated by the state-run Meghna Oil. Seven others were critically injured.

Meanwhile, an inquiry committee formed to investigate the incident has failed to point out the reason behind the accident. It analysed the CCTV footage, but has not been able to find any lead that could help ascertain the cause of the fire.

Saifulla Al-Khaled, managing director, Meghna Petroleum, told The Independent that three lorries of Meghna Petroleum were being loaded with octane and diesel from the Daulatpur depot when the fire erupted around10:45am.

 “The fire started from some spark from unknown sources and immediately spread and engulfed the three lorries,” said Al-Khaled. “Two persons died immediately,” he added.

Another probe committee was formed by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). The committee, headed by Mohammad Yousuf, GM (Audit), of the BPC, is yet to visit the Daulatpur depot.

Bangladesh has a total of 23 depots in different locations in the country.

Last month, during a programme organised by the state-run Jamuna Oil, Nasrul Hamid, state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, expressed doubt over the safety and security of oil depots in the country, saying they were ‘in a very fragile state’.”