AC fire at Malibagh’s Hosaf Shopping Complex sends smoke billowing, causing panic

An air-conditioning unit fire triggers thick smoke, but no casualties have been reported

A fire has broken out in an air-conditioning unit at the Hosaf Shopping Complex near Malibagh in Dhaka, sending thick smoke through the building and creating widespread panic.

The incident occurred around 1pm on Sunday.

The Fire Service confirmed the incident, saying two units were dispatched immediately. However, market staff managed to extinguish the fire before their arrival.

By then, dense smoke had enveloped the building and surrounding areas, but no injuries were reported.

A Fire Service officer at the scene said they conducted inspections across two floors but found no active fire. The fire reportedly started on one of the two staircases where shop goods and external AC units were stored.

The firefighting staff noted that although extinguishers were present on several floors, no other fire suppression systems were in place. The confined staircase prevented smoke from escaping, allowing it to spread across the market and trigger panic.