Worst building disasters in Bangladesh

Dozens of people were killed in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on Thursday in a blaze that ripped through apartment buildings where chemicals were stored.

Fires and building collapses are common in the country – particularly in the multibillion-dollar garment industry – where building regulations are lax and volatile chemicals are often improperly kept.

Here are some of the worst incidents in Bangladesh.

The 22-storey FR Tower fire in Dhaka

On March 28, 2019,  at least 25 people died after a fire broke out in the 22-storey FR Tower in Dhaka, trapping hundreds of office workers.

The blaze that burned for several hours trapped people inside the building, some shouting for help from windows on upper floors and the roof. The fire injured about 70 people, many of them now being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit.

Some of those stuck inside made it to safety by sliding down cables on the side of the building, but as shocked onlookers watched, others took their chances and jumped in a bid to escape the smoke and heat.

At least six people including a Sri Lankan national died in this way, officials said.

Chawkbazar building fire in Dhaka

On February 21, 2019, at least 70 people died after a massive fire raced through several apartment buildings also used as chemical warehouses in a centuries-old part of Bangladesh‘s capital, Dhaka.

The devastating blaze, which broke out at a building in Chawkbazar was brought under control by firefighters almost 12 hours later.

The flames raced through four adjoining structures, which were also used as chemical warehouses, including for storing plastic granules and body sprays.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced compensation of 100,000 taka ($1,191) for families of those killed, while it will provide 50,000 taka ($596) to those injured.

Rana Plaza collapse

At least 1,130 people died when Dhaka’s Rana Plaza nine-storey factory complex collapsed in April 2013 – one of the world’s worst industrial tragedies.

Another 2,000 people were injured in the disaster, which highlighted the failure of many top Western fashion brands to protect workers in the poor developing countries where their goods are manufactured.

In 2016, a court ordered 38 people, including owner Sohel Rana, to face trial for murder for falsely certifying the factory complex as safe. Proceedings have dragged on, however, and prosecutors say a verdict could take five more years.

Dhaka chemical fire

Bangladesh’s deadliest industrial blaze was in June 2010, when 117 people died in a fire that ripped through one of Dhaka’s most densely populated areas.

The fire – fuelled by a chemical warehouse – destroyed several multi-storey apartment buildings and gutted a string of small shops.

Garment factory blaze

A fire swept through a nine-story garment factory near Dhaka in November 2012, killing 111 workers. An investigation later found it was caused by sabotage and that plant managers had prevented victims from escaping.

“I broke open an exhaust fan in the second floor and jumped to the roof of a shed next to the factory,” said one survivor. “I broke my hand but survived somehow.”

Packaging factory fire

A fire triggered by a boiler explosion tore through a packaging factory north of the capital in September 2016, killing 24 people.

The blaze is thought to have spread quickly because of chemicals stored on the ground floor.

Gap factory fire

A blaze engulfed a multistorey factory outside Dhaka that made clothes for the high-street retailer Gap in December 2010. At least 27 people died in the fire and more than 100 were injured.

Many of the factory workers had left the building for lunch at the time, but witnesses described seeing dozens of trapped workers jumping from the 10th floor of the building to escape.

Boiler explosion

An industrial boiler exploded at a factory, killing 13 people and causing part of the six-storey building to collapse, in July 2017.

Most of the plant’s 5,000 workers were off for the Eid holidays when the boiler exploded during maintenance work.