DHAKA: At least six people were killed and 13 others injured when a massive fire ripped through a residential building in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, on Friday morning.
Mohammad Rafi Al Faruk, a duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, told the media that the blaze erupted on the first floor of the six-storey building at 7:54 a.m. local time.
“Bodies of three persons were retrieved after several firefighting units doused the blaze at around 10 a.m.,” he said.
Apart from them, the police official said, ten of the thirteen injured people are currently receiving treatment across several hospitals.
Among the deceased are three members of the same family, including a husband, wife and their child, said Uttara West Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiq Ahmed.
উত্তরার একটি বাসায় যে আ•গু•নে দুই নারীসহ তিন জনের মৃ-ত্যু।#Uttara #fire pic.twitter.com/2iXBRiq3r3
— rajneetebd (@rajneetebd) January 16, 2026
The fire left the victims with critical burn injuries and severe smoke inhalation. Despite being taken to hospitals for treatment, they later succumbed to their injuries.
According to Talha Bin Jasim of the Fire Service’s Public Relations Department, firefighting units reached the scene within eight minutes of receiving information about the incident.
The fire originated on the second floor of the seven-storey building, trapping multiple occupants. Thirteen people were rescued and transported to Kuwait Maitree Hospital, where the death toll later increased.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and police and the Fire Service have launched a joint investigation.
Explaining the high number of casualties, Talha Bin Jasim said the apartment contained a large amount of furniture, which caught fire quickly and caused the flames to spread rapidly.
