Drug International factory fire: 20 units battle blaze, Army join

At least 20 firefighting units were battling a fire that broke out at the Drug International factory in the Cherag Ali area of Tongi, Gazipur, on Wednesday morning.

The fire broke out at Unit-2 of the company around 10:14am, said Station Officer Talha Bin Zashim of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters’ media cell.

The FSCD received information about the fire at 10:15am and dispatched firefighting units, he said.

Twenty firefighting units from Tongi, Uttara, Gazipur Chowrasta Modern, Mirpur, Kurmitola, Rajendrapur and Purbachal fire stations were working to bring the blaze under control.

Meanwhile, a Bangladesh Army vehicle carrying water arrived at the scene to assist firefighters in tackling the blaze.

The blaze quickly spread across parts of the factory, reportedly destroying medicines, machinery and other equipment inside the facility.

Station Officer of Tongi Fire Station Shahin Alam said firefighters rushed to the spot and began efforts to extinguish the fire.

Considering the severity of the blaze, firefighters from different stations are jointly conducting the operation, he said.

The fire could not be brought under control till filing of this report at 12:45pm.

The flames and thick smoke have sparked concern in the surrounding areas.

However, the exact point of origin and the extent of the fire's spread could not immediately be confirmed.

No casualties have been reported so far, but it remains unclear whether anyone is trapped inside the factory.