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people work at the factory, most of them women and children. The fire, they said, originated around 12:10pm.

Shyamal Chandra Das, a resident living next to the factory, said, “As the fire broke out, we heard several loud noises, and the flames rose very high. Locals immediately evacuated the women and children and removed furniture from nearby houses.”

Following the incident, relatives of the workers gathered in front of the factory in search of their loved ones. By around 4:00pm, a crowd had gathered outside, while firefighters continued dousing operations inside the factory.

Around an hour later, Md Sabbir, 25, was seen frantically searching for his mother, Manju Begum, at the factory gate. She had joined work at the factory that very day.

“My sister lives in a house where one of the residents works at the factory. After speaking to them, my mother joined today [yesterday] for her first day on the job. I don’t know what happened afterwards. I still haven’t found any trace of her.”

Another worker, Shahinur Akter, was also missing.

Her brother Sagar Hossain said, “My sister’s phone has been off since the incident. We searched everywhere and still could not find her.”

‘MAIN GATE LOCKED’

Twelve-year-old Ayesha Akter, who had been working at the factory for the past eight months, said, “As soon as the fire started, I ran to get out of the factory. When I reached the gate, I found it closed. After waiting for some time, it was opened from outside, and I managed to get out safely.”

Several others also alleged that the factory’s main gate had been locked, making it difficult for workers to escape. Many had to look for alternative escape routes.

Md Mahmud, an employee of an internet service provider shop beside the factory, confirmed the gate was closed at the time of the fire, leaving several people stranded near the exit.

“A girl came running to the gate right after the fire broke out. I asked the guard to open it, but he refused. As a result, they were forced to find other ways to get out.

“The factory authorities cannot evade responsibility for the deaths.”

FRANTIC SEARCH FOR AN ONLY CHILD

Delowar Hossain, a security guard by profession, lived with his only daughter Mim, 16, in Keraniganj.

The girl had been working at the factory for the past five months.

After learning about the fire, Delowar rushed to the factory in search of his daughter. Failing to find her, he went to Sir Salimullah Medical College morgue in the evening, where the bodies of five had been kept.

There, he was able to identify her body and immediately broke down. “My wife died three years ago. I didn’t remarry thinking whether it would affect my daughter….”

Morgue sources said Mim died from extreme heat and smoke inhalation.

HEALTH MINISTER’S VISIT

Following the incident, Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bokul, along with BNP Executive Committee member Nipun Roy Chowdhury, visited the site around 7:30pm and announced financial assistance of Tk 2 lakh for each of the victim families, while the government would bear the cost of treatment for the injured.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed grief over the incident and the casualties that followed. His press secretary Saleh Shibly said the PM directed the authorities concerned to investigate the incident and provide necessary assistance to the victims.

He confirmed that Tarique spoke to the health minister and directed him to ensure proper treatment for the injured.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury also visited the site around 8:00pm and ordered the formation of a separate five-member probe committee, led by a joint secretary, to determine the exact cause of the fire. It was asked to submit its report within five working days.

Meanwhile, the fire service also formed a five-member probe committee, headed by its director of operations and maintenance Lt Col Md Mahmudul Hasan, director of the Operations, which is expected to submit its report within seven working days.