DU's Bijoy Ekattor Hall shop fire under control, no casualties reported

Four units of the Fire Service contain the flames after 10 minutes of effort

The fire at Bijoy Ekattor Hall has been brought under control, and no one was injured, the Fire Service has said.

On Monday evening, the Fire Service control room reported a fire at a shop in Bijoy Ekattor Hall at Dhaka University following a gas cylinder explosion.

Fire Service spokesperson Anwarul Islam said in a message that four fire service units from Palashi and Siddikbazar stations rushed to the hall and extinguished the fire around 6:30pm after about 10 minutes of effort.

Following recent earthquakes, the university had closed classes and exams for 15 days since Monday as a precaution.

Students were ordered to vacate the halls after 5pm on Sunday, and Bijoy Ekattor Hall residents had already begun leaving.

The fire broke out less than an hour after the scheduled time to evacuate the hall.

ASM Ali Reza, provost of Bijoy Ekattor Hall, said the fire at the hall started at 6:09pm.

“The incident occurred while switching the gas line from one cylinder to another. Some of the shopkeeper’s cooking supplies may have been damaged.

“Thanks to those nearby and the prompt response of the Fire Service, the fire was quickly brought under control. I express my gratitude to everyone involved,” he added.