The fire-ravaged chemical warehouse in Mirpur’s Shialbari area, where a devastating fire killed at least 16 people on Tuesday, was an illegal establishment that had been served three separate notices by the Fire Service before the incident, officials confirmed.
Lt. Col. Tajul Islam, Director (Operation and Maintenance) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, revealed the information during a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon.
He said Alam Traders, the warehouse that caught fire, was on the Fire Service’s list of illegal establishments.
“We had already informed the concerned government agencies about the illegal chemical warehouse and issued three notices to the owner. A drive to shut it down was underway,” Lt. Col. Tajul Islam said.
The fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday inside Alam Traders, which stored large quantities of chemicals. The blaze spread rapidly to an adjacent four-storey building, housing two readymade garment factories—Smart Printing on the second floor and RN Fashion on the third and fourth floors.
Firefighters later recovered 16 bodies from the second and third floors of the building. Family members have so far identified 10 of the victims.
Lt. Col. Tajul said the radiation and toxicity of the chemicals have made it difficult to conduct a full search inside the warehouse. “We are currently spraying water to neutralize the chemical substances. It may take another 36 to 72 hours before the site becomes safe enough for search operations,” he added.
The official confirmed that the fire in the garment section was brought under control on Tuesday, while the fire in the Alam Traders warehouse was finally contained around 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday.
“There were six to seven types of chemicals stored inside, but we are still identifying their exact composition and level of hazard,” he said. “We are using technology, including drones, to assess the situation and proceed systematically.”
According to Tajul Islam, the warehouse building has been severely damaged due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. “The pillars have weakened, and only structural engineers and RAJUK experts can determine the full extent of the damage. Any operation inside remains highly risky,” he cautioned.
He also said the main entrance to Alam Traders was locked from outside when firefighters arrived. “We had to break the lock using hydraulic cutters. That indicates no one might have been inside, but we can’t confirm until a full search is completed.”
The incident has renewed concerns about illegal chemical warehouses operating in densely populated areas of Dhaka, despite repeated warnings and enforcement drives following previous fire disasters.