Fire Service Forms Five-Member Probe Committee Over Tongi Drug International Factory Fire
The Fire Service and Civil Defence has formed a five-member investigation committee over the devastating fire at Unit-2 of Drug International Limited's factory in Tongi, Gazipur. The committee's main task is to find the source of the fire and the causes behind the damage.
Shahin Alam, a senior officer of the Tongi Fire Service, confirmed the formation of the committee at around 8:30 pm on Sunday night. He said the committee would formally begin its investigation on Monday (19 October).
The committee is headed by Lieutenant Colonel Md Mahmudul Hasan, the Fire Service's Director (Operation and Maintenance). The five-member team under his leadership will examine the entire incident.
According to Fire Service sources, the fire broke out at around 10 am on Wednesday, 14 October, at the factory's Unit-2 in the Cheragali area of Tongi. Fire Service units rushed to the scene one after another after receiving the news.
A total of 21 Fire Service units worked to bring the situation under control. After nearly four hours of effort, the blaze was brought under control, and it was completely extinguished at around 10:30 pm that night.
After the fire was fully put out, the factory was handed back to the authorities. However, uncertainty has surrounded the factory's future ever since the incident.
On 15 October, the day after the fire, the factory authorities issued a notice keeping the factory closed for an indefinite period. Production at the unit has not been able to resume since then.
Meanwhile, no information has been found about any initiative from the factory authorities to determine the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage. The authorities have also declined to speak to the media on the matter.
In this situation, those concerned believe the Fire Service probe committee's investigation will reveal the real cause of the fire, the scale of the losses and other matters connected to the incident.
A fire at a sensitive industrial facility such as a pharmaceutical factory also raises questions about safety arrangements. The investigation report is expected to examine the state of the factory's fire safety measures as well.
All eyes will now be on the committee's report once its work begins. The report is expected to provide a clear picture of how the fire started and where responsibility lies.
