'Bodies of Mirpur fire victims to be handed over after identification'

The bodies of those killed in the devastating fire at Mirpur’s Shialbari in the capital will be handed over to their families as soon as identification is confirmed. Unidentified bodies will be preserved for several days before being handed over to Anjuman Mofidul Islam, authorities said.

Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman, Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), confirmed the development on Wednesday (October 15).

“We have received 16 bodies at DMCH following the fire at a chemical and garment factory in Mirpur. Among the victims, nine are men and seven are women. The bodies were severely burned, making identification extremely difficult,” he said.

“So far, 10 families have claimed to have identified their relatives. However, the authorities, the Deputy Commissioner, and the police are waiting for confirmation before releasing the bodies,” he added.

Brig Gen Asaduzzaman said DNA samples are being collected from all the bodies before they are handed over to claimants. “Unclaimed bodies will be kept for a few days. If no one comes forward, they will be handed over to Anjuman Mofidul Islam,” he said.

He further mentioned that Mirpur police are working closely with the hospital and local administration to expedite the process. “We are in constant contact with the police and the Deputy Commissioner. Our goal is to return the bodies to the families as soon as possible,” he added.

Earlier, around 11 am on Tuesday, a fire broke out at a factory building on Road No. 3 in Shialbari and quickly spread to a nearby chemical warehouse, causing extensive damage and casualties.