A catastrophic fire swept through the Ukhia Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar, claiming two lives, including a child, and destroying at least 1,000 homes.
The blaze broke out at Kutupalong Lambashia Camp around noon on Tuesday (December 24) and was brought under control after two hours of firefighting.
One of the deceased has been identified as Abul Khair, 60, son of the late Suleman of Kutupalong Camp-1C Block in Ukhia. The identity of the child remains unknown.
Md Mujibullah, the nephew of Abul Khair, described the harrowing scene: “We don’t know how the fire started. When the houses were engulfed in flames, my uncle couldn’t escape. Everything in the house, including all belongings, was reduced to ashes.”
Ukhia Fire Service Station Master Shariful Islam confirmed that four fire service units worked tirelessly to contain the blaze. "The fire was brought under control after two hours of effort," he said, adding that two lives were lost in the tragedy.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ukhia Police Station, Arif Hossain, confirmed the incident and the casualties.
The origin of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are conducting investigations to determine the cause. This devastating fire has left hundreds of families homeless and without possessions, further worsening the plight of the vulnerable Rohingya community.
Emergency relief efforts are expected to follow as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.