A devastating fire that broke out at a factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) has finally been brought under control after nearly 17 hours of relentless efforts by firefighters and armed forces. The blaze, which began on Thursday, October 16 at around 2:30 p.m., was contained by 7:25 a.m. Friday, according to the Fire Service. Officials, however, cautioned that it will take more time to fully extinguish the flames.
The fire originated on the seventh floor of the eight-storey building and quickly spread throughout the structure, which was used to manufacture medical equipment for hospitals. Witnesses described the intensity of the blaze, saying the heat could be felt from several hundred meters away.
At least 17 fire service units, supported by the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), worked through the night to control the inferno. Firefighters were forced to draw water from nearby reserve tanks as the flames raged across multiple floors.
Despite the scale of the disaster, no casualties have been reported so far, and authorities confirmed that no workers were trapped inside the building. However, the extent of the damage is expected to be enormous, with the factory’s infrastructure severely compromised.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about industrial safety standards and emergency preparedness in Bangladesh’s export zones. The CEPZ, one of the country’s largest industrial hubs, houses dozens of factories employing thousands of workers.
Officials from the Fire Service said that an investigation will be launched to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the full scale of losses. For now, rescue and cooling operations are ongoing, as authorities work to ensure the building does not collapse.
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