Otobi assessing damage

Otobi has begun assessing the extent of the damage caused by a fire at its Savar factory.

The fire that broke out on Tuesday night gutted the entire factory spread over 30 bighas of land.

Ten firefighting units brought the blaze under control after about five hours' of efforts.

Md Ferdous, a human resource officer for the furniture-maker, said around 1,700 people worked at the factory.

Ferdous said the factory used to deliver Tk 15 million worth of products every day.

He said the assessment would take at least two days, and that the restoration would begin as soon as possible.

“We’re taking this issue very seriously. We will pay out salaries on the scheduled day, Apr 24, and we’re trying to engage the workers in other Otobi units,” Ferdous said.

An Otobi press release said all workers of the factory had evacuated to safety in time because of the fire drills practised by the company.

Savar Police Station Sub-Inspector Sheikh Farid Uddin said one person had been injured in the incident and admitted to the Enam Medical College Hospital.

Gazipur Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Md Akhteruzzaman told bdnews24.com the cause of fire would become known only after an investigation. Firefighters were seen working at the scene on Wednesday.