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Published : 26 Aug 2024, 10:43 PM
The Gazi tyre factory in Narayanganj has been burning for over 22 hours, with the fire still active in the six-storey building.
The fire began on around 9pm on Sunday, followed by a day of looting that began earlier in the afternoon.
By Monday afternoon, looting was still ongoing in parts of the factory's outer areas.
A dozen units of firefighters have been attempting to tame the flames after arsonists set the factory owned by Awami League leader, former minister of textiles and jute, and Gazi Group Chairman Golam Dastagir Gazi ablaze in Rupganj's Tarabo Ruposhi area.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director Lt Col Rezaul Karim said, "Efforts to extinguish it are under way with modern equipment. There are no concerns about the fire spreading further."
"The presence of flammable materials used in tyre manufacturing is causing delays in extinguishing the blaze,” said Rezaul.
“Once the fire is fully out, we will search for any missing individuals inside the factory."
On Monday afternoon, even as the fire continued to blaze, locals looted various items from inside the factory.
Police arrested Awami League leader, former minister of textiles and jute, and Gazi Group Chairman Golam Dastagir Gazi from Dhaka’s Shantinagar on Sunday.
After his arrest, a group of people attacked the tyre factory and looted it.
The main factory area remained protected by police, military, and volunteers, but looting continued in the unguarded sections of the expansive factory grounds, including theft of machinery, steel, plastic, and copper.
People were collecting fuel oil discharged from the factory into the canal beside the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
A few people were breaking windows to loot the factory, but when approached by journalists, they declined to comment.
One young man, however, said: "Gazi has taken a lot from us. This is our turn."
Assistant General Manager Saiful Islam said hundreds of people entered the factory on Sunday afternoon.
"On evening, a few hundred people divided into two groups stormed into the factory. Our workers were not able to block them.”
By 9pm, the looters had set fire to the building’s ground floor, he added.
Saiful and other officials complained that police did not respond when they sought help.
But police have denied these allegations of negligence.
Narayanganj Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman said, "The police have not been negligent. We are making every effort to ensure the security of the factory."
‘THEY EVEN TOOK TOILET COMMODES’
Additional DIG of Industrial Police Md Asaduzzaman also spoke to journalists about providing security at the factory.
“Those who entered the factory came in with the intention to loot. We started working as soon as we received the news,” he said.
The officer said after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on Aug 5, the factory was looted and set on fire once before.
Since then, there were no guards, security personnel, or perimeter fencing at the factory.
“In this unprotected state, a significant number of people from various areas entered and looted goods and machinery, even taking toilet commodes.”
“Efforts have been ongoing since the incident began, with multiple units working continuously,” he added.
Ahsan Mahmud Russell, Rupganj Upazila chief executive, or UNO, said: “Police, industrial police, the army, and volunteers are working to prevent looting at the factory. I have urged everyone to take a stronger stance.”
