BM DEPOT FIRE: Probe finds chemical responsible
At least 51 people, including 10 firefighters, were killed and over 200 injured in the fire and massive explosion at the depot on the outskirts of the country’s port city Chattogram on June 4. The fire was doused on June 8.
The report submitted to Chattogram divisional commissioner Md Ashraf Uddin by committee chief Mizanur Rahman, also the additional divisional commissioner (development), found that the fire originated from the unauthorised chemical hydrogen peroxide stored in some containers at the depot.
Al Razi Chemical Complex Limited, a sister concern of the depot owner Smart Group of Industries, owned the hydrogen peroxide-laden containers.
A member of the committee said that they had made 20 specific suggestions in their report regarding fire control at inland container depots.
The divisional commissioner told reporters that they would send the report to the ministry and the ministry would take further decisions.
‘The committee made some suggestions but we won’t disclose it now,’ he said.
Five other probe committees formed respectively by the Chattogram district administration, the Chittagong Port Authority, the Chattogram customs authorities, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments and the Fire Service didn’t submit reports till Wednesday even though their extended deadline expired days ago.
Police on Wednesday recovered the remains of another body from the depot at Sitakunda in Chattogram.
Sitakunda police inspector Suman Banik, also the investigation officer of a case filed over the incident, told New Age that they sent the remains of the body to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
‘We are now counting 51 bodies from the incident,’ he said.
The BM Container Depot, a Netherland-Bangladesh joint venture, was set up as an inland container depot that had been in operation since May 2011. It is one of 19 such container depots in Chattogram.
The chairman of the depot is Dutch businessman Bert Pronk, who also has other investments in Bangladesh, while its managing director is Mustafizur Rahman of the Smart Group of Industries.
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 the BM Container Depot.
News Courtesy:
https://www.newagebd.net/article/175293/probe-finds-chemical-responsible
