Families wait in agony for missing victims

Families of missing victims in the fire and explosion at BM Container Depot in Chattogram’s Sitakunda were left to wait in agony for the information of their near and dear ones while many injured were struggling for life in different hospitals.

A total of 40 persons claimed that their family members remained missing after the incident and provided DNA samples on Monday and Tuesday, Shahnewaz Khaled, special superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department Chattogram, told New Age.

Firefighters recovered the body parts of two persons on Tuesday, which took the death toll from the incident to 43.

Fire service assistant director Akhtaruzzaman told New Age that besides one of the bodies they found fire service and civil defence boots and PPE signs while the other body showed burnt parts of security clothing.

 ‘We guess one of these victims is a member of the fire service and the other is a member of the depot security team,’ he said.

Akhtaruzzaman said that they brought the fire under control on Tuesday but some containers were still releasing smoke.

Fire service assistant director Anisur Rahman told reporters at a briefing on the spot that at least 113 injured people, including 14 firefighters, were undergoing treatment at different hospitals on Tuesday.

He said that the bodies of nine deceased were handed over to families for funeral maintaining due protocol. 

One of the injured firefighters has been released from the hospital while at least two others were fighting for their lives at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

Chattogram Medical College Hospital director Shamim Ahsan told New Age on Tuesday afternoon that six injured at their hospital were in critical conditions while at least 63 others  were facing multiple difficulties.

Noted eye specialist Deen Mohammad Noorul Huq visited CMCH on Tuesday and suggested arranging eye treatment for most of the victims, he said.

Md Babul, an injured victim, who was undergoing treatment at CMCH, told New Age that he could not bear the pain.

Chattogram civil surgeon Elias Chowdhury told New Age that some injured, who were released from hospitals earlier, returned for treatment informing them that they were again facing some difficulties.

The authorities could so far identify only 26 bodies and handed over 23 of them to relatives.

The identified deceased are- Md Maniruzzaman, 50, Habibur Rahman, 23, Rabiul Alam, 19, Md Mominul Hoque, 24, Md Mohiuddin, 22, Tofayel Islam, 22, Md Alauddin, 35, Afzal Hossain, 36, Md Sumon, 28, Md Ibrahim, 27, Faruk Jamaddar, 50, Harunur Rashid, 55, Md Nayan, 22, Shahadat Hossain, 29, Shahadat Ullah Jamaddar, 27, Md Ridwan, 25, Towhidul Islam, 41, Salah Uddin Kader Chowdhury, 42, Shakil Tarafdar, 45, Nipon Chakma, 45, Rana Mia, 22, Ramjanul Islam, 24, Nazamuddin Rubel, 30, Mitu Dewan, 28, Md Sohel, 26, and Md Harun, 55, said CMCH authorities.

Three victims among 19 shifted to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka with severe burn injuries were battling for their lives, reported New Age staff correspondent in Dhaka.

Makfarul Islam, 65 and firefighters Gausul Azom, 22, with an 80 per cent burn, and Robin, 22, with a 60 per cent burn were undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of the hospital, the institute coordinator, Samanta Lal Sen, said at a press briefing.

The rest were in the post-operative ward. Of them, eight were in critical conditions, he said.

Waiting outside the ICU of the institute, Mehadi, a relative of firefighter Gausul said they were hoping against hope for his survival.

‘Gausul’s condition has improved than before. However, nothing can be said,’ he said.  

Sathi Akter, sister of Badruzzaman Rubel, 18, who is in the post-operative ward with a 10 per cent burn injury, was standing outside of the ward with the hope to meet her brother.

‘His condition is critical. Please keep him in your prayer,’ she said.

The authorities formed five probe committees over the fire incident.

Chattogram deputy commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman told New Age that the seven-member committee that they formed headed by the deputy director (local government) of Chattogram was collecting details and would ‘soon submit their report.’

Chattogram port secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk told New Age that they formed a three-member committee headed by Chattogram port’s terminal manager to investigate the incident. The committee was asked to submit the report within three working days.

The Department of Factory and Establishment Inspection formed a three-member committee over the fire incident and asked for a report within three days.

Chattogram Custom authorities formed a two-member committee to investigate the incident, said custom’s joint commissioner Salahuddin Rizvi.

Fire service and civil defence formed a seven-member committee to investigate the massive fire incident.

The fire started at around 9:25pm on Saturday and it was followed by a series of blasts, which left over 200 injured.

No case, however, was filed over the incident against BM Container Depot Authorities or any other person until Tuesday evening, said Chattogram district superintendent of police SM Rashidul Hoque.

Authorities said hydrogen peroxide stored in some containers might have caused the explosions.

At least 33 containers filled with hydrogen peroxide were brought to the depot on June 1 and June 2, according to customs authorities.

Al Razi Chemical Complex Limited, a sister concern of Smart Group of Industries, which is also the owner of the depot, owned the hydrogen peroxide-laden containers. 

Chattogram south district Awami League treasurer Muzibur Rahman, also the editor of the Chattogram local daily Purbodesh, is an owner of Al Razi Chemical Complex Limited and a director of BM Container Depot.

BM Container Depot, a Dutch-Bangladeshi joint venture, was set up as an inland container depot that had been operating since May 2011.

It is one of 19 such ICDs in Chattogram.

The chairman of the depot is Dutch businessman Bert Pronk, who also has other investments in Bangladesh, while the managing director is Mustafizur Rahman of the Smart Group of Industries.

Meanwhile, a team of new opposition platform ‘Ganatantra Mancha’ led by Ganosamhati Andolan’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki visited the BM Inland Container Depot and the injured at CMCH on Tuesday.

They allegedly came under attack by the activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League while visiting the injured.

News Courtesy:

https://www.newagebd.net/article/172660/families-wait-in-agony-for-missing-victims