Gazipur: Firefighters brought under control a devastating blaze that broke out in a jhut (garment accessories) warehouse in Tongi’s Millgate area of Gazipur district on Saturday afternoon, following nearly two hours of intense efforts. The fire erupted around 11:45 am and was brought under control at 1:30 pm by seven firefighting units, officials said.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Kazi Nazmuizzaman, Assistant Director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), stated that four fire engines reached the spot within four minutes of the fire breaking out, while three others joined later. Firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading to nearby residential buildings on the northeastern and western sides by setting up barricades.
Nazmuizzaman noted that it would take some time to douse the blaze completely, as six to seven jhut warehouses were gutted in the incident. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage could not be determined immediately, but no casualties were reported.
Addressing fire safety measures at the warehouse, the official highlighted the absence of fire safety systems or equipment and mentioned that firefighters faced difficulties due to a water crisis, as there was no water reservoir on the premises. The fire service had previously served multiple notices to jhut warehouse owners, urging them to obtain licenses and establish water reservoirs for compliance.
Nazmuizzaman also warned of increased fire risks during the upcoming winter season, when the country typically experiences a rise in major fire incidents. He emphasized the importance of ongoing awareness campaigns across the country to encourage people to prepare and protect themselves from massive fires.