Scuffle Over Octane Distribution Leaves Three Severely Burnt

In a catastrophic incident triggered by a seemingly trivial dispute, a violent altercation regarding the distribution of octane led to a massive conflagration that reduced two plastic factories to ashes in Burichang Upazila, Cumilla. The blaze, which erupted on Saturday afternoon, 18 April 2026, has left three individuals fighting for their lives with critical burn injuries.

The incident occurred in Shahdaulatpur village, situated near the Kalakachua area. According to local witnesses, the fire was inadvertently ignited during a physical struggle between a group of individuals over a container of fuel, which subsequently came into contact with a lit cigarette.

Chronology of the Incident and Casualties

Witnesses reported that a group of men were engaged in a heated argument concerning the “sharing” of octane. As the disagreement escalated into a physical scuffle, a significant quantity of the highly flammable liquid was spilled onto the ground. Simultaneously, a lit cigarette held by one of the participants sparked the fuel, and the flames immediately leapt toward the adjacent plastic manufacturing units.

The fire spread with terrifying velocity, fueled by the vast quantities of combustible plastic raw materials stored within the premises. Three men caught in the immediate vicinity of the ignition point suffered severe thermal injuries as the area transformed into an inferno within seconds.

Casualty and Damage Profile

Harrowing Accounts from the Factory Owners

The owners of the two factories, Billal Hossain and Nazrul Islam, were reportedly resting inside their respective premises when the disaster unfolded. They described a harrowing escape from the rapidly advancing wall of fire that consumed their livelihoods in a matter of minutes.

“We were asleep inside the factory when the sudden screams of ‘Fire! Fire!’ jolted us awake,” the owners recounted while surveying the smouldering ruins. “We barely managed to escape with our lives. Everything we built—our machinery, our raw stock, our entire livelihood—has been reduced to nothing but charcoal and ash. We have lost everything.”

The emotional and financial toll on the owners is immense. The estimated loss of approximately 17 lakh BDT represents their entire capital investment. Fire service officials noted that the presence of chemical-based plastic materials made the blaze particularly difficult to suppress, requiring several hours of intensive, high-pressure effort to bring under total control.

Law Enforcement and Official Investigation

Following the emergency alert, two units from the local Fire Service rushed to the scene and eventually extinguished the flames, successfully preventing the fire from spreading to nearby residential dwellings. The three injured men were initially rushed to a local hospital; however, due to the extreme percentage of their burns, doctors recommended an immediate transfer to a specialised state-of-the-art burn unit in Dhaka.

Lutfur Rahman, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Burichang Police Station, confirmed the details of the police intervention and the ongoing inquiry.

“Our officers arrived at the scene shortly after the fire broke out to maintain order and assist the fire service. Preliminary reports suggest the fire was indeed a result of the altercation involving spilled fuel and a lit cigarette. However, we have launched a formal investigation to identify the specific individuals involved in the scuffle and to determine if there was any underlying criminal intent or negligence behind the incident,” the OC stated.

The incident has left the Shahdaulatpur community in a state of profound shock, highlighting the lethal risks associated with the negligent handling of volatile fuels in densely packed industrial pockets. Authorities have urged local businesses to adhere strictly to fire safety protocols to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.