18 fire service units battle blaze at Tongi pharmaceutical factory

A major fire broke out at a pharmaceutical factory operated by Essential Drugs International in Tongi, Gazipur, on Wednesday, prompting the deployment of 18 Fire Service units. The army has also joined efforts to bring the blaze under control.

A team from the army arrived at the scene with a water tanker shortly before 1pm on Wednesday (October 14). The fire broke out earlier in the morning on the six-storey factory building on Beximco Road in the Cherag Ali area of Tongi. Local Fire Service units initially responded to the incident and began firefighting operations.

Mohammad Saidul Alam Chowdhury, deputy director of the Gazipur Fire Service, said three units from the Tongi Fire Service Station were first dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of the fire. As the flames intensified, additional units were deployed in stages.

Teams from Gazipur, Dhaka and surrounding areas are now working together to contain the blaze.

Fire Service officials said the presence of various chemicals used in pharmaceutical manufacturing had intensified the fire.

The flames spread rapidly, making it difficult for emergency responders to bring the situation under control.

No casualties had been reported as of Wednesday afternoon.

Shaheen Alam, an official at the Tongi Fire Service Station, said the factory contained medicines, production equipment, chemicals, metal components and other industrial materials. These items are at risk of being damaged in the fire.

Shahjahan Shikder, head or acting head of the media cell at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, said the department received the fire report at 10:15am on Wednesday.

Fire Service units were dispatched immediately and reached the scene at 10:25am, when they began firefighting operations.

He said firefighters were maintaining a cautious position to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby structures. News of the fire at the pharmaceutical factory triggered concern and drew crowds in the surrounding area.

The extent of the damage and the financial losses caused by the fire were not immediately known.

Relevant officials said the losses could be assessed once the fire had been brought fully under control.