Eight sued over Sitakunda fire, explosion

A case has been filed against eight people over the fire and explosion at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram district that claimed 44 lives.

Police did not disclose the name of the accused but sources in Sitakunda Police Station said all the accused are officials of the depot.    

Earlier on Tuesday night, the police station sub-inspector, Ashraf Siddique, lodged the case on allegations of the incident and casualties due to negligence.

On Saturday night, a fire broke out at BM Container Depot in Sonaichhari area and it spread fast as there were chemical substances, leaving many people dead and several others injured.

The injured were admitted to the district's different hospitals, including Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Some of them, later, succumbed to their injuries. 

According to locals, police, and fire service officials, the fire spread from one container to another container on Saturday night. Later, an explosion occurred due to the presence of chemicals in one of the containers.

In this connection, the depot's Director Mujibar Rahman said, "The exact reason behind the fire could not be ascertained as the people involved in the depot management were also injured. But we are suspecting that the fire originated from a container."

He also said, "We will bear the cost of medical treatment of the injured people. We will also give maximum compensation to all fire victims."

Iqbal Hossain/SU