A big fire broke out at a storehouse of scientific equipment and chemical products at the city s Baiutabandhu Avenue yesterday

Trie fire gutted equipment and chemical products In the storehouse ol the DU Instruments Ltd. located at the ground floor of a four storey building at 25 Bangabandhu Avenue adjacent to the Awami League centra) office

At around 12:45 pm. thick smoke belched out from the closed store and spread around the adjacent shops and offices including the Awami League office The fire created panic among the AL nonuna tion seekers, who were stand Ing in a queue then to face in-. terview by the AL Parliamentary Board for final selection.

Fire Brigade sources said, nine fire fighting units rushed to the spot at around 12:55 pin and it took them nearly four hours to bring the fire under control.

The blaze was extinguished by 4:50 pm. but it look another two hours to complete the damping down exercise, fire service officials said.

The cause of the fire could not be immediately identified and the extent of the damage

is yet to be ascertained, the officials added

The fire fighters dressed up In protective suits and breathing apparatus used water, oxy gen gas and foini compound in I heir relentless effort to bring the fire under control At this stage smoke In various c oloured with bad adours from burning chemicals engulfed the locality

A huge contingent of police was deployed In the area to keep onlookers at a safe distance.

No major damage was caused to other floors of the building which also housed offices of the Dhaka Distrtct Rover Scouts. Government Transport Pool Employees' Welfare Cooperative Society, Modern Filins. Modern Cultural Academy. Razzak Shoe Store, Rajeeb Hotel and Ambassador Tailors

But the panic stricken people moved out of the three nearby buildings — the AL office building. Bata Bazaar building and Ibrahim Mansion — to escape suffocation from smoke. •

A nearby showroom of the DU Instruments Ltd at 30. Bangabandhu Avenue was also found closed yesterday