Fire breaks out at Fatullah madrasa, 48 students admitted to burn institute

At least 48 students suffering from smoke inhalation have been admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery following a fire at a madrasa in Narayanganj’s Fatullah.

The fire broke out at Jamia Ashrafia Madrasa in the Signboard area around 2am on Tuesday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Sultan Mahmud Shikder, a resident physician at the burn institute, said three of the 48 students brought to the hospital were in critical condition and had been taken to the intensive care unit (ICU).

They were identified as Yusuf, 18, Khairul, 22, and Jobayer, 18.

Fire Service duty officer Md Shahjahan said four firefighting units were dispatched to the madrasa after receiving information about the fire at 1:55am. The blaze was brought under control at 3:44am.

The fire broke out on the first floor of the five-storey madrasa building.

Students who arrived at the hospital said there was a library on the first floor, which was gutted in the fire.

Citing the accounts of the affected students, Dr Sultan said the fire originated from an electrical short circuit in one section of the madrasa.

Smoke quickly spread to different parts of the building, triggering panic among the students staying there. They rushed to get out of the building, leading to a scramble.

Several students suffered respiratory tract injuries due to smoke inhalation, he added.