A massive fire broke out on 17th Jan 2025, at a leather goods warehouse in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh area, causing panic among locals and raising concerns over fire safety in commercial buildings. The incident occurred around 2:14 PM on the fourth floor of a seven-storey building located in the busy Hazaribagh tannery kitchen market.
According to Shajahan Sikder, spokesperson for the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the fire quickly spread to the fifth and sixth floors, intensifying the situation. Thick black smoke engulfed the surrounding area, alarming nearby residents and shopkeepers.
In response, 11 firefighting units, supported by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the army, and local volunteers, rushed to the scene. The firefighters used a skylift to access the higher floors and received extra water supply from Dhaka Wasa to combat the flames. The fire was finally brought under control at around 4:45 PM, nearly two and a half hours after it began.
Duty Officer Shafiqul Islam from the Fire Service headquarters confirmed that the search and rescue operations are still ongoing. Firefighters are working tirelessly to extinguish any remaining hotspots to prevent the fire from reigniting.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the fire, and investigations are underway. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far, providing a sigh of relief for the community.
This incident raises serious concerns about fire safety standards in buildings storing flammable materials like leather goods. Many commercial areas in Hazaribagh are densely packed, often lacking proper safety measures, making them vulnerable to such disasters.
Local business owners have urged authorities to conduct regular safety inspections and implement stricter regulations to prevent future incidents. Residents have also demanded the installation of fire safety equipment in commercial buildings to ensure better preparedness.
