A fierce conflagration has broken out within the sprawling complex of the Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Project in Maheshkhali. The blaze, which ignited at approximately 8:00 PM on Monday, 12 January 2026, has defied containment efforts for over four hours, casting a crimson glow over the island’s industrial landscape.
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A Protracted Firefighting Operation
The fire initially took hold in the facility’s extensive scrap yard, an area utilized for the storage of discarded construction and industrial materials. Despite the immediate deployment of the power plant’s two dedicated on-site fire-fighting units, the flames spread with alarming speed, necessitated an urgent call for regional reinforcements.
Salahuddin Kader, the Station Leader of the Maheshkhali Fire Service, reported that his teams reached the plant at 9:50 PM. However, the sheer scale of the inferno required even further assistance. Currently, six firefighting units—including two from the neighbouring Chakaria sub-district—are engaged in a desperate struggle to prevent the fire from leaping toward the plant’s core generation infrastructure.
The Challenge of Combustible Heaps
The primary difficulty in suppressing the blaze lies in the composition of the scrap yard itself. The yard serves as a repository for a highly volatile mix of materials that have created a “fuel-rich” environment for the fire.
Industrial Cotton: Ignites instantly and carries embers over long distances.
Dry Timber & Scaffolding: Provides a deep-seated heat source that is difficult to cool.
Polymers & Plastics: Produces dense, acrid black smoke and molten run-off, posing a significant hazard to the breathing apparatus and safety gear of the fire crews.
“The presence of massive mounds of plastic and dry wood is the main reason the fire is not yet under control,” Station Leader Kader explained. “We are working tirelessly, but the density of the heaps makes it incredibly difficult to reach the core of the heat.”
Incident Overview: Matarbari Scrap Yard Fire
| Feature | Incident Details |
| Incident Date | Monday, 12 January 2026 |
| Detection Time | Approximately 20:00 (Local Time) |
| Site Function | Storage for cotton, timber, and plastic waste |
| Units Active | 6 (Maheshkhali, Chakaria, and Plant Units) |
| Lead Authority | Maheshkhali Fire Service |
| Official Status | Uncontained as of 00:00, 13 January |
Preliminary Theories on Origin
While the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Maheshkhali, Imran Mahmud Dalim, has officially stated that the cause is “yet to be determined,” fire service officials have alluded to potential security breaches. Preliminary reports from plant management suggest that the yard often sees unauthorised incursions by local foragers or street children. Authorities are investigating whether a small, neglected fire started by trespassers may have acted as the catalyst for this major industrial emergency.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far, and the main power generation blocks are currently reported to be safe from the path of the flames.