Dhaka: At least five persons were killed and10 others injured after a fire broke out at a chemical factory near the Bangladeshi capital, officials said on Sunday.
"We have recovered five bodies from the scene. One of victims was a woman passerby, who was school teacher," said Hasibur Rahmana, fire service station officer. "Two bodies were burnt beyond recognition," he said.
The fire was caused by a boiler explosion on Saturday in the factory located in Pubail of Gazipur near the capital. Local ward councillor Bazlur Rahman said the factory melt old tires to manufacture a special kind of oil used along with pitch for carpetting roads.
"Authorities had in the past asked the factory management several times to shut it down because of the risky process of burning and melting tires. But the management paid little heed," Bazlur said.
Around 30 people were working in the factory at the time of the explosion. Many workers came running out. TV channels said two injured were being treated at a nearby government hospital while three others were rushed to a specialised burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The police said owner of the factory went into hiding but a manhunt has been launched to find him.
Gazipur Deputy Commissioner S M Alam said a three member-probe committee has been formed to probe the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report in three days.
