A major fire at the Drug International Pharmaceuticals factory in Tongi, Gazipur, intensified on Wednesday, 14 October, prompting the Bangladesh Army to join efforts to bring the blaze under control. A total of 20 Fire Service units were involved in the firefighting operation as emergency responders worked to contain the flames.
An Army team arrived at the scene at around 12.45 pm, bringing its own water tanker to support the ongoing operation. Its arrival added further resources to the efforts led by the Fire Service, which had been tackling the fire since the morning.
The fire broke out at approximately 10.30 am, according to the initial information available. Fire Service personnel were dispatched to the factory after receiving the report and began working to extinguish the flames. As the situation developed, additional units were mobilised to strengthen the response.
Rashed Bin Khalid, the Fire Service duty officer, had earlier said that 16 units were working to put out the fire, while three more units were on their way to the scene. Their arrival was reportedly delayed by a workers’ protest on the road, which disrupted access for emergency vehicles.
The number of Fire Service units subsequently involved rose to 20, reflecting the scale of the response required. A specialist team known as SRT also arrived at the site to assist with the operation.
The incident caused concern in the surrounding area as firefighters continued their efforts to prevent the flames from spreading further. Fires at industrial facilities can present significant challenges for emergency crews, particularly when they need to secure access to the affected premises, maintain an adequate water supply and assess the risks posed by the building and its contents.
The deployment of additional firefighting units and support from the Army was intended to reinforce the ongoing response. However, the immediate priority remained containing the blaze and ensuring that emergency personnel could work as safely and effectively as possible.
At the time of the initial reports, the cause of the fire had not been established. There was also no confirmed information about the extent of the damage or whether anyone had been injured or killed.
Further details about the incident, including the possible cause and the scale of the losses, were expected to become clearer after the fire was brought under control and the relevant authorities were able to assess the affected premises.