Tight lanes, congested buildings make firefighting difficult in Chawkbazar

Fire Service says firefighters improvised with extended hoses to control the flames

Firefighters have worked in difficult conditions to contain a fire that spread across two neighbouring buildings in Chawkbazar’s Rahmatganj Dalpatti, as congested lanes and cramped surroundings hindered their entry.

Md Saleh Uddin, deputy director of Fire Service Dhaka Division, said on Monday that a large water tanker could not reach the scene due to the narrow streets.

“Anyone familiar with Old Dhaka knows how difficult it is to bring vehicles onto the streets. We brought a large water tanker, but it could not reach the site.”

“Firefighters extended hoses from a distance to bring the flames under control,” he added.

The fire broke out on the third floor of a three-storey building at 4:42pm on Monday and later spread to a neighbouring structure.

Two units from Lalbagh station initially responded, joined later by five more units, and the fire was contained by 6pm.

One building housed a pulses warehouse and mill on the ground floor, staff accommodation on the second, and a luggage fittings factory on the third.

The neighbouring building had a workshop on the ground floor and offices above.

Officer Saleh said, “I doubt even the residents know all the passageways. Some said to enter through a window, some said to cut through a door.”

He added that crews climbed onto three nearby buildings to work on the flames, taking “risks”.

“Our work is still going on inside. After that we will search to see if anyone is trapped. We haven’t received any reports of casualties.”

Describing the condition of the two structures, he said: “These buildings do not fit any category. Some sections are tin, some are brick, some semi-brick. Wooden steps connect one part to another, and even those steps had caught fire.”