The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Computer accessories and office stationeries worth several crores of taka were gutted in a devastating fire at a commercial building at Motijheel, the city's business area yesterday morning. However, no casualty was reported till writing this report last night.

Witness said the fire erupted at about 9:30am on the second floor of the three-storied Aligarh House building at 144, Motijheel Commercial Area, adjacent to the BIWTA Bhaban, where a godown of Janata Bank was situated. Soon the blaze spread to the two nearby commercial buildings--Gaus-e-Pak Biponi Bitan and Saleha Bhaban. Witnessing their goods being gutted by the fire in front of their eyes, the shop owners became frustrated. People at the nearby buildings also became panic-stricken and started to shifting their belongings to safer places.

Receiving information, 11 units of firefighters, including from the headquarters, went to the spot after an hour and put out the blaze at about 12:30pm after about three hours of frantic efforts.

Besides, army and police took part in controlling the surrounding situation and rescuing the people.

Fire-brigade sources said six godowns of six commercial companies, including a storeroom for air-freshener, were situated at the second floor of the three-storied building. Members of the army of Sabujbagh, Paltan and Dhalpur army camps led by Major Mahbub took part in the rescue operations. The army also urged people not to be panic-stricken through microphones.

The shop owners of stationary goods at Aligarh Bhaban built up a godown on the second floor, comprising 2,500 sq ft area, where huge quantities of paper, computer accessories, fax machines and other stationary items were kept stockpiled. Goods of more than 30 shops, including Prime Enterprise, Kamal Enterprise, JSJ Enterprise, Siddique Enterprise, Jyoti Enterprise and M Rahman Enterprise were kept in the godown.

Fire brigade sources said the fire spread "rapidly in the entire floor due to presence of volatile chemicals" following the explosion of a number of canisters of air-freshener. "People in the area panicked as the air-freshener canisters blasted with a huge sound," said a Fire Brigade official.

Reasons behind the fire could not be ascertained immediately. The fire fighters who were engaged in dousing the blaze said there was no fire-extinguishing system at any of the buildings which were affected by the fire. Even, there was no emergency landing ladders on any floor of the affected buildings.

The affected shop owners claimed that valuables worth over Tk 5 crore were gutted in the fire.