Dhaka, 16 January 2026: A devastating fire engulfed a six-storey residential building in Uttara, Dhaka, on Friday morning, claiming the lives of six people and leaving several others injured. The blaze reportedly started at 7:50 a.m., according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Initial reports indicated that three people had died at the scene. Later, three more succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital, confirmed Shahriar Ali, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Uttara.
Among the deceased were two women, one man, and one child. The identities of the remaining two victims have not yet been confirmed.
Incident Details
Talha Bin Jasim, a spokesperson for the Fire Service, told Prothom Alo that the fire broke out at a residence on Road 18, Sector 11, Uttara. The blaze initially erupted on the second floor. “Three people were killed in the fire, while thirteen others suffered smoke inhalation and were immediately transferred to Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital,” he said.
The Fire Service brought the fire under control by 8:25 a.m., and it was fully extinguished by 10:00 a.m.
Possible Causes and Spread
Md. Abdul Mannan, Deputy Assistant Director of Fire Service, Dhaka Zone-3, stated that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. “The fire originated on the second floor and quickly spread up to the third floor,” he said. Talha Bin Jasim added that the rapid spread was due to a large amount of furniture and combustible materials in the home.
Casualty and Treatment Summary
| Category | Number of People | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial deaths at scene | 3 | Burn injuries |
| Deaths at hospital | 3 | Injuries sustained from smoke inhalation |
| Injured and hospitalised | 13 | Treated at Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital |
| Total fatalities | 6 | Includes 2 women, 1 man, 1 child |
Authorities are investigating the precise cause of the fire and whether safety regulations were followed in the building. Local residents have expressed concern over building safety, pointing out that Uttara has seen multiple residential fires in recent years due to faulty electrical wiring and the storage of combustible materials.
Police and fire officials have urged residents to ensure electrical safety and reduce the accumulation of flammable materials in their homes to prevent such tragedies in the future.
