Dhaka March 28: At least 17 people, including a Sri Lankan national, were killed and over 50 injured when a massive fire engulfed 22-storey building in Dhaka’s posh Banani area Thursday, in the latest blaze to hit the Bangladeshi capital.
The incident, which happened Thursday afternoon in a building that houses several garment shops and internet service providers, left several people trapped inside as the blaze spread to two adjacent buildings. “Until now we can tell you that the inferno killed 17 people, one of them being a Sri Lankan national,” Farman Ali, an officer-in-charge of Banani police station, told reporters. At least six of the killed, including the Sri Lankan national, died after they jumped off from various floors of the high-rise building for safety.
“A Sri Lankan citizen identified as Niras Chandra, was declared dead at Kurmitola General Hospital. He fell off the building while trying to escape the fire,” Kazi Shahan Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Cantonment police station, was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune. Another person, who was yet to be identified by the authorities, was declared dead at Kurmitola General Hospital after he fell off the building while trying to escape the fire. “Similarly, three more male victims were declared dead on arrival by the doctors of United Hospital,” officials were quoted as saying.
