Firefighting crews in Bangladesh have entered their third consecutive day of operations to fully extinguish a catastrophic inferno at the BM Container Depot in Sitakunda, on the outskirts of Chattogram. The disaster, which has claimed at least 41 lives and left scores more with life-altering injuries, has prompted a stern warning from the government that any parties found negligent or complicit will face the full force of the law.
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A Scene of Desolation and Danger
The 21-acre site, once a bustling hub for international trade, has been described by witnesses as resembling a “war-ravaged zone.” Plumes of acrid smoke continue to rise from the smouldering ruins as rescue teams, supported by military explosives experts, navigate the scorched landscape. The recovery operation is proceeding with extreme caution following the discovery of four “unexploded containers” filled with dangerous chemicals, specifically hydrogen peroxide.
The presence of these volatile substances has made it perilous for responders to approach the heart of the site. Fire officials revealed that the facility’s management had allegedly failed to disclose the presence of chemicals when the blaze first erupted on Saturday night. This lack of transparency proved fatal, leading to a series of massive explosions that caught first responders off guard.
Investigation and Sabotage Theories
High-ranking government officials, including Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, visited the site and the wounded at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The Home Minister was unequivocal, stating that punitive measures would be swift if the investigation unearths criminal negligence.
Interestingly, Dr Hasan Mahmud noted that authorities are investigating whether the incident was a deliberate act of sabotage. This theory is being explored in the context of the upcoming inauguration of the Padma Bridge, a landmark infrastructure project. The minister suggested that certain factions might have attempted to create an “anarchic situation” to overshadow the nation’s achievement.
Critical Safety Failures
Initial inquiries have already exposed a staggering lack of safety infrastructure at the depot. Reports suggest the facility lacked even the most rudimentary fire-suppression equipment, such as functioning hydrants. Furthermore, flammable chemicals were stored in close proximity to export-ready garment products—a gross violation of safety protocols requiring segregated storage for hazardous materials.
| Feature / Metric | Status at BM Container Depot |
| Current Death Toll | 41 (Revised from earlier reports of 49) |
| Firefighters Lost | 9 (The worst single-disaster toll for the service) |
| Safety Infrastructure | Minimal; Lack of a comprehensive fire safety plan |
| Chemical Presence | Hydrogen Peroxide (Undisclosed to initial responders) |
| Operational Scale | 21-Acre Joint Venture (Bangladesh-Netherlands) |
| Identification Method | DNA Testing (Expected to take up to one month) |
The Human Toll and Identification Efforts
The disaster has dealt a devastating blow to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, which lost nine personnel in the line of duty—the highest number of firefighters killed in a single incident in Bangladesh’s history. An elderly official at the scene described the heartbreak of carrying the remains of men he considered “his own sons.”
For the families of the deceased, the agony continues. While 25 victims have been identified, many bodies remain unrecognisable. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has begun collecting DNA samples from relatives, a process estimated to take at least a month to yield conclusive matches. Meanwhile, the wounded face a grim recovery; many have suffered 70% burns to their bodies or severe internal damage to their respiratory systems. Sixteen patients have been airlifted to Dhaka for specialist treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.