The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

A devastating fire in Gohira Bariband area under Anwara Upazila in the district burnt alive five of a family and destroyed three slum houses last night, police and fire brigade sources said.

The victims were identified as Rosina Akter, 13, Ali Akbar, 11, Ali Azam, 9, Nezam Uddin,7, and Abdul Karim,5.

The victims were sons and daughters of one Mohammad Idris, a day labour who hailed from the same area.

The sources said the blaze completely damaged property worth about Taka one lakh.

Fire Brigade officials said the fire was originated from a candle of a house at around 10-30 P.M. The flame soon engulfed other adjacent houses damaging the valuables of the establishments.

The victims who were asleep inside their house could not come out when fire spreading and roasted alive inside their room. Their charred bodies were recovered after extinguishing the inferno at about 11.30 P.M. The victim's parents went to visit their relatives at Anwara Sadar leaving their offspring in the slum houses.