Even after 21 hours since the initial outbreak, complete extinguishment of the fire at Mansur Khan Plaza in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar has not yet been achieved. Thick smoke and a persistent burning odor continue to shroud the surrounding area, with shattered glass windows occasionally collapsing from extreme trapped heat inside the building.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), Fire Service and Civil Defence Assistant Director Kazi Najmuzzaman announced that while the blaze was brought under control at 5:20 AM, full containment requires extensive clearing of packed warehouse goods. The fire originated around 5:04 PM on Monday, prompting an initial response of six firefighting units from Lalbagh, Siddikbazar, and Palaship.
Firefighters encountered severe challenges, including narrow, congested streets during peak hours, a lack of ventilation on the 6th and 7th floors, heavy padlocks and collapsible gates securing storage units, and water scarcity requiring backup tankers from WASA. Four fire service personnel sustained injuries while forcing shutters open under intense heat and toxic smoke. Currently, six units remain stationed at the site, systematically removing charred goods and cooling down smoldering pockets to prevent any reignition.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
