Desperation as flames, smoke engulf building

Screams of people trapped inside the building on fire at Banani could be heard by rescuers and onlookers. Soon after the fire spread on the seventh, eighth and ninth floors of the 22-story FR Tower, people started breaking window panes to get out. Some of them jumped out and one of them died in the process. Witnesses said when the fire broke out, many people were trapped inside the building as the lift was stopped and heavy smoke did not allow them to come down.

Fire fighters were frantically continuing their operation to douse the blaze. Trapped people were imploring the fire fighters to save them. Later, army and fire fighters rescued many of them by using ladders and chopper. A Sri Lankan national reportedly fell to his death while trying to escape the fire. Niras Chandra was brought dead to Kurmitola General Hospital, said the hospital’s director, Brig Gen Qazi Rashid-Un-Nabi.

He sustained serious injuries as he jumped off the building to escape the fire and died before he was brought to the hospital.

Rezaul Ahmed, 36, an employee of the FR Tower, jumped out of the building and broke his hand and leg. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

He complained that they did not get sufficient assistance from the fire fighters when the fire broke out. “The fire fighters were slow in their work in the beginning. There were many students with me. We helped the fire fighters,” he added.

Anine Akhter Poly, who did not find her husband Mirza Atiquer Rahman, works in a private organisation at the building.

She became emotional and said she looked for her husband at the DMCH and elsewhere, but could not find him.

Poly said her husband works for Scan Ware. When the fire broke out, Mirza called his wife and informed her about the incident. But later his phone was switched off.

There was a huge crowd of curious onlookers soon after the fire broke out. Many of them were taking photos and uploading them on the social media.

Many of them were in live stream on the social media. Such activities hampered the work of fire fighters.

Relatives of the trapped people were there in large numbers too.

One of the survivors, Badsha Faisal, narrated his three-hour battle for survival. Faisal was working on the 12th floor.

“I felt smoke spreading on the whole floor and I called my father. He said not to jump out, but take shelter on the roof.”

Faisal is now undergoing treatment at the medicine ward of Kurmitola General Hospital. Around 3:45pm, Faisal was rescued along with four other survivors by firefighters.

People trapped on the upper floors of the building broke windows to call for help.

Mohiuddin was among the anxious crowd in front of the burning building. His brother, Motahar, who works in a buying house on the 14th floor, was trapped in the building with his co-workers.

Others in the crowd expressed grievances with the fire service’s efforts to douse the fire. They said that the flames intensified due to delay by fire service personnel in tackling the situation.

Three Air Force helicopters joined the fire service units in their battle against the fire. Army and navy teams also joined the rescue efforts.

A number of garments-buying houses and internet service providers have their offices in the highrise building, which also houses the offices of different business firms, sales centres, restaurants and a convention centre.

A police information desk has been set up in front of FR Tower to inform people about the rescue activities. Worried relatives and friends of the missing people came there asking for information.

According to the information received from them, eight people are yet to find the traces of their relatives. They are: Rezaul Karim Kazi,  Salauddin, Nazrul Islam, Zafar Ahmed, Mohammad Hiru,  Siddique Abir, Mostafizur Rahman and Jirin Bristi.

Desperation as flames, smoke engulf building

Screams of people trapped inside the building on fire at Banani could be heard by rescuers and onlookers. Soon after the fire spread on the seventh, eighth and ninth floors of the 22-story FR Tower, people started breaking window panes to get out. Some of them jumped out and one of them died in the process. Witnesses said when the fire broke out, many people were trapped inside the building as the lift was stopped and heavy smoke did not allow them to come down. Fire fighters were frantically continuing their operation to douse the blaze. Trapped people were imploring the fire fighters to save them. Later, army and fire fighters rescued many of them by using ladders and chopper. A Sri Lankan national reportedly fell to his death while trying to escape the fire. Niras Chandra was brought dead to Kurmitola General Hospital, said the hospitals director, Brig Gen Qazi Rashid-Un-Nabi. He sustained serious injuries as he jumped off the building to escape the fire and died before he was brought to the hospital. Rezaul Ahmed, 36, an employee of the FR Tower, jumped out of the building and broke his hand and leg. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He complained that they did not get sufficient assistance from the fire fighters when the fire broke out. The fire fighters were slow in their work in the beginning. There were many students with me. We helped the fire fighters, he added. Anine Akhter Poly, who did not find her husband Mirza Atiquer Rahman, works in a private organisation at the building. She became emotional and said she looked for her husband at the DMCH and elsewhere, but could not find him. Poly said her husband works for Scan Ware. When the fire broke out, Mirza called his wife and informed her about the incident. But later his phone was switched off. There was a huge crowd of curious onlookers soon after the fire broke out. Many of them were taking photos and uploading them on the social media. Many of them were in live stream on the social media. Such activities hampered the work of fire fighters. Relatives of the trapped people were there in large numbers too. One of the survivors, Badsha Faisal, narrated his three-hour battle for survival. Faisal was working on the 12th floor. I felt smoke spreading on the whole floor and I called my father. He said not to jump out, but take shelter on the roof. Faisal is now undergoing treatment at the medicine ward of Kurmitola General Hospital. Around 3:45pm, Faisal was rescued along with four other survivors by firefighters. People trapped on the upper floors of the building broke windows to call for help. Mohiuddin was among the anxious crowd in front of the burning building. His brother, Motahar, who works in a buying house on the 14th floor, was trapped in the building with his co-workers. Others in the crowd expressed grievances with the fire services efforts to douse the fire. They said that the flames intensified due to delay by fire service personnel in tackling the situation. Three Air Force helicopters joined the fire service units in their battle against the fire. Army and navy teams also joined the rescue efforts. A number of garments-buying houses and internet service providers have their offices in the highrise building, which also houses the offices of different business firms, sales centres, restaurants and a convention centre. A police information desk has been set up in front of FR Tower to inform people about the rescue activities. Worried relatives and friends of the missing people came there asking for information. According to the information received from them, eight people are yet to find the traces of their relatives. They are: Rezaul Karim Kazi, Salauddin, Nazrul Islam, Zafar Ahmed, Mohammad Hiru, Siddique Abir, Mostafizur Rahman and Jirin Bristi.