10 including six of a family killed in Cox’s Bazar resort fire

At least 10 people, including six of a family, were killed and nine others injured in a devastating fire at a wooden resort near Patowartek Beach in Inani under Ukhia upazila in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday.
Six of the deceased were identified as tourists Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, and Milita Mehezabin Alvi, 23, from Banasree, Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, a student of Jagannath University, and Nafij Tehami, 27, a student of Dhaka University, Fariha Kabir, 33, from Chuadanga, and five-year-old Faizan Ahmed. They were relatives.
Identities of the other deceased could not be confirmed.
Of the injured, Shihab Uddin, 31, a physician at Mugda Medical College Hospital, his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29, Mannan, 34, Meherunnesa, 30, Masud, 30, and Samida, 32, were undergoing treatment at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.
Sources and witnesses said that the fire broke out at the three-storey Tuptup Resort and Restaurant near the Marine Drive Road around 7:30am.
The fire spread fast and engulfed the entire resort, made of wood and bamboo, shortly, leaving little time for those inside to escape.
On information, Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) personnel rushed to the scene and doused the fire after frantic efforts lasting one and a half hours.

However, the nearest fire station was about 22 kilometres away and the distance caused the delay in the arrival of the firefighters, said sources.
FSCD Cox’s Bazar Station In-Charge Dolon Acharya said 10 bodies had been recovered by the afternoon.
“It is too early to determine the cause of the fire, identities of all the victims or extent of the damage,” he said.
However, not all the victims were tourists, as restaurant staff were also present when the fire broke out, said the officer.

The FSCD Chattogram Deputy Director (DD) Md Taufiqul Islam Bhuiyan said that the fire spread quickly in the wooden resort due to the strong sea wind.
Such an establishment needs to have portable fire extinguishers, fire alarms, hose pipes and a fire safety plan, he said.
“But the resort did not have any of these. There was no fire licence either. The resort was built only seven-eight months ago,” said the DD.
Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital Resident Medical Officer Subaktagin Mahmud Sohel confirmed the identities of the deceased and said that the injured had suffered burns covering around 5–7% of their bodies.
Ukhia Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Kamal Hossain said that inquest reports for the deceased were being prepared at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.
The bodies would be handed over to the families after the identification process was completed, he said.
Six members of a family meet a tragic end
Mohammad Ashiqul Islam had travelled to Cox’s Bazar for a holiday with 10 of his family members, including his wife Israt Jahan Maliha, and her younger sister Laila Jahan Nabila.
One of them returned to Dhaka last night, while six of the remaining nine were killed and three others injured in the fire incident.
“Six of my nieces and nephews have died. Five of them were children of my three sisters. One of my elder niece’s children also died,” said Aminul Islam, relative of Ashiqul.

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He flew to Cox’s Bazar after hearing about the accident.
“They were supposed to return to Dhaka at around 10:30am today (Saturday). They came to Cox’s Bazar for a visit last Thursday. When the fire broke out in the morning, two of them were outside. They informed me about the accident,” he said.
Cox’s Bazar Superintendent of Police (SP) AMM Sajidur Rahman told the Daily Sun that they were trying to establish the exact details of those staying at the resort during the accident.
The identities of the victims will be confirmed through DNA tests, if necessary, he added.
Resort warned about fire risks
The resort did not have a fire safety licence and had been warned about safety risks during an inspection in June, FSCD Director General Brigadier General Sultanul Afreen Junaid said.
Speaking to reporters at a briefing on fire safety during Durga Puja at the Fire Service headquarters on Saturday, he said that the authorities had issued a notice after identifying risks at the resort.
The ground floor housed a restaurant, while the second and third floors were used for tourist accommodation. The resort had not obtained the required fire safety certification, he added.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan said that the fire was initially suspected to have originated from a kitchen stove.
“A five-member investigation committee, headed by the additional district magistrate, has been formed to determine the cause of the fire,” he said.
Minister directs investigation
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat called for determining the cause of the devastating fire at Tuptup Resort and Restaurant.
He also directed the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) to take immediate steps to assess the damage, assist affected tourists and strengthen fire safety measures at tourism establishments to prevent similar tragedies.
Expressing profound grief over the loss of lives, Millat urged the authorities concerned to conduct a thorough investigation to reveal the actual cause of the blaze.

The main opposition in parliament, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has urged the incumbent government to investigate security systems, including fire safety, in all resorts and hotels in the Cox’s Bazar tourist area to ensure the safety and security of tourists.
Meanwhile, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, in a written statement issued by the party on Saturday, expressed deep concern and grief over the incident and urged the government to monitor and inspect the overall security arrangements at all resorts.

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