Fire at CEPZ factory still burning after 4 hrs

A massive fire has broken out at a factory in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) area. Even after four hours, the blaze was yet to be brought under control as of 6pm on Thursday, October 16. Fifteen units of the Fire Service and four units of the Bangladesh Navy have been working tirelessly to extinguish the flames. No casualties have been reported so far.

The fire started around 2pm at the warehouses of Adams Caps and Textile Ltd and Zhihong Medical Company in the area. Adams manufactures towels and caps, while Zhihong Medical produces surgical gowns. The fire reportedly originated from the seventh-floor warehouse shared by both factories.

According to CEPZ sources, the building employs about 700 workers. Executive Director of CEPZ, Abdus Subahan, confirmed that no workers were injured.

He told the media, “As soon as the fire broke out, all workers were evacuated from the building. So, there is no risk of casualties in this incident.”

Mst. Shipa, a worker at Zhihong Medical Company, said the area where the fire started is usually restricted for female workers. She was working on the fifth floor when, after lunch, she heard people shouting “fire, fire” and saw others rushing down from the upper floors. “Hearing the screams, we all ran downstairs,” she said.

Deputy Director of the Fire Service (Chittagong Region) Mohammad Jasim Uddin said, “The presence of flammable materials inside has made it difficult to control the fire. The factory authorities have informed us that no workers are trapped inside.”