Woman dies in Dhanmondi building fire

An elderly woman died of suffocation in a fire that broke out at a multi-storey building in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi residential area this morning.

The deceased, Jamila Kuti, 65, hailing from Gaibandha, used to work as a housemaid on the seventh-floor at the same building, Shamim Uddin, manager of the building named Zahir’s South Lakeviewm, told The Daily Star

Besides, a 12-year-old girl named Shaheda was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) as she fell sick inhaling smoke caused by the fire, said Inspector Bacchu Miah, in-charge of DMCH police outpost.

The fire originated on the 2nd floor of the 13 storey-building at Dhanmondi 6/A residential area, opposite to the Eidgah ground, around 9:15am, Mohammad Rasel, on-duty officer at Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, told The Daily Star

On information, three units of firefighters rushed to the spot and doused the fire around 10:20 am, Rasel said.

Later, the firefighters entered the building and rescued two people -- Puti and Shaheda -- in critical condition from stairs. They were sent to DMCH where doctors declared the Jamila dead, said Inspector Bacchu Miah. 

Shamim Uddin also said when the smoke started spreading after broking out the fire, some inmates came out of the building using stairs while some others went to the building’s rooftop.

The fire might be broken out due to electric short circuit, fire service officials and family members said.  

However, the extent of loss from the fire could not be assessed immediately.