Won battle against blaze, loses battle for life

The braveheart Sohel Rana who succumbed to his injuries in the Banani fire rescued at least 40 people during the frantic operation. “While he was trying to extinguish the fire standing atop the ladder, he also tried to make space for people looking to escape the inferno. As the number of escapees swelled, he scaled down with the ladder, hanging on to a single rope. But the automated ladder smashed his leg,” said a witness, Samsur Rahman. Rahman told The Independent that he was on the spot as he is a media man. “I was surprised by his activities—what he did for the fire victims that time. It was unbelievable and also beyond imagination how a man could be so selfless in the face of danger,” he said.

That time, all fire fighters were busy dousing the fire and some in rescuing people who got stuck in the building. But Sohel Rana was different from all of them, remembered Samsur Rahman.

Talking to The Independent, Md Bajlur Rahman, senior station master of Kurmitola Fire Service and Civil Defence where Sohel worked, expressed his profound grief and said that he was a brave firefighter. Sohel always fought to save people at risk, the official said.

According to eyewitnesses, on March 28, Sohel was trying to rescue people trapped in the FR Tower of Banani. At one stage, his security hooks got stuck with the rescue ladder. At that time, he slid away from the ladder and hung dangerously when one of his legs broke.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Md Abdul Hamid have expressed their deep shock and sorrow at the death of firefighter Sohel Rana.

In separate condolence messages, the Premier and the President said Sohel Rana will remain a "bright example" for sacrificing his own life to save others.

Both of them prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their profound sympathy to the bereaved family.

Firefighter Sohel Rana, who sustained severe injuries during Banani’s FR Tower fire rescue operation, died while undergoing treatment in Singapore General Hospital yesterday.

The critically-injured Sohel was first taken to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. On April 5, he was flown to Singapore by an air ambulance for better treatment.

Rana’s body arrives

BSS adds: The body of brave heart fireman Sohel Rana arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport last night. “The body of Rana arrived here by a flight of Singpore Airlines around 10 pm at the airport and the senior officials of Life Saving Force received the body,” Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Police ASP (Media) Mohammad Tarique Ahmed told.

The body will be kept at the mortuary of CMH. His namaz-e-janaza will be held at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters’ today. Later, the body will be sent to his ancestral home Keruail under Itna upazila of Kishoreganj district today for burial.

Won battle against blaze, loses battle for life

The braveheart Sohel Rana who succumbed to his injuries in the Banani fire rescued at least 40 people during the frantic operation. While he was trying to extinguish the fire standing atop the ladder, he also tried to make space for people looking to escape the inferno. As the number of escapees swelled, he scaled down with the ladder, hanging on to a single rope. But the automated ladder smashed his leg, said a witness, Samsur Rahman. Rahman told The Independent that he was on the spot as he is a media man. I was surprised by his activitieswhat he did for the fire victims that time. It was unbelievable and also beyond imagination how a man could be so selfless in the face of danger, he said. That time, all fire fighters were busy dousing the fire and some in rescuing people who got stuck in the building. But Sohel Rana was different from all of them, remembered Samsur Rahman. Talking to The Independent, Md Bajlur Rahman, senior station master of Kurmitola Fire Service and Civil Defence where Sohel worked, expressed his profound grief and said that he was a brave firefighter. Sohel always fought to save people at risk, the official said. According to eyewitnesses, on March 28, Sohel was trying to rescue people trapped in the FR Tower of Banani. At one stage, his security hooks got stuck with the rescue ladder. At that time, he slid away from the ladder and hung dangerously when one of his legs broke. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Md Abdul Hamid have expressed their deep shock and sorrow at the death of firefighter Sohel Rana. In separate condolence messages, the Premier and the President said Sohel Rana will remain a bright example for sacrificing his own life to save others. Both of them prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their profound sympathy to the bereaved family. Firefighter Sohel Rana, who sustained severe injuries during Bananis FR Tower fire rescue operation, died while undergoing treatment in Singapore General Hospital yesterday. The critically-injured Sohel was first taken to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. On April 5, he was flown to Singapore by an air ambulance for better treatment. Ranas body arrives BSS adds: The body of brave heart fireman Sohel Rana arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport last night. The body of Rana arrived here by a flight of Singpore Airlines around 10 pm at the airport and the senior officials of Life Saving Force received the body, Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Police ASP (Media) Mohammad Tarique Ahmed told. The body will be kept at the mortuary of CMH. His namaz-e-janaza will be held at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters today. Later, the body will be sent to his ancestral home Keruail under Itna upazila of Kishoreganj district today for burial.