SANJOY KUMAR BARUA and MOSTAFA YOUSUF

Abdul Majid was scurrying from place to place to find his son since late last night.

From Chattogram Medical College Hospital, he went to the gate of the BM Depot, where a massive explosion, followed by a blaze, so far took 49 lives and injured hundreds.

He then came back to CMCH, desperate to see his child.

Among the piles of charred bodies left on the floor, it was hard for Majid to recognise his son. At least 12 hours later, he was finally able to identify his son Robiul Alam, 18, from his ragged, burnt clothing.

“My son, a labourer at the depot for the last seven months, called me around 10:06pm saying fire. I had asked him to get out of the situation as soon as and in any way possible. I know he tried, but he could not make it.

“The pain my son must have gone through while dying in that fire!” Majid wailed.