Another victim of the Dilu Road building fire died at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burns And Plastic Surgery yesterday (Monday). With this, an entire family was wiped out. The victim, AKM Shahidul Kirmany Rony, 40, chief operating officer of an asset management firm died around 6:30am yesterday, raising the death toll to five. Shahidul had sustained 43 per cent burns.

The hospital's Resident Medical Officer (RMO), Partha Sarker Pal, confirmed the matter.

Earlier, a buying house staffer, Abdul Kader Liton (40), and a Viqarunnisa Noon School and College student, Afrin Jahan Juthi (17), died in the fire, that started around 4:00am at building No. 45/A on Dilu Road.

Shahidul's five-year-old son, AKM Rushdi, also died that very day. Rushdi was later

identified by his grandfather, AKM Shahidullah, as rescuers had a hard time identifying the body since it was burnt beyond recognition.

Rushdi’s mother, Jannatul Fardous (38), died yesterday after being treated for 95 per cent burns on Sunday.

Talking to The Independent yesterday, neighbours and family members of Rushdi’s friend, who was a nursery grade student of Assemblies of God (AG) Church School, said the family was wiped out in the tragic incident. It poses a serious question on security from accidental fire hazards. Rushdi was recently enrolled in the school.

Family members said Shahidul tried to escape by the stairs, carrying Rushdi in his arms, but was unable to see, as smoke had engulfed the staircase. Suddenly a burst made Shahidul lose his hold and Rushdi fell. Later Shahidul tried to crawl back up the stairs for his son, but lost consciousness. The family had big plans for their future. Jannatul had set up her own online business and the young family was planning to expand it.

Family members have completed the burial of Jannat and Rushdi in Narsingdi.

At least three people, including Rushdi, died after a fire broke out in a five-storeyed building at Dhaka’s Dilu Road in Eskaton around 4am on February 27, while the residents of the building were sleeping.

Nine others were injured. Among them, two suffered severe burns, while four had respiratory complications due to the smoke, and the others got injured trying to escape from the fire.

Witnesses said by the time firefighters managed to reach the spot, the blaze had engulfed the whole building. Five cars kept in the parking space were reduced to ashes. However, no one confirmed the origin of the fire, but the people of the surrounding area told The Independent that there was an electrical short- circuit and the fire spread among wooden furniture that was in the parking space. Later, the cars caught fire.

After preliminary investigation, a probe body, formed by the Fire Service and Civil Defense, suspect that the fire had its origin in the parking space. However, the precise cause of the fire and from where it started is yet to be confirmed.