A day after a case was filed over the Shialbari fire in Mirpur that claimed 16 lives, police have yet to arrest any of the accused. The case, filed by Saiful Islam, brother of deceased garment worker Chanowar Hossain, names Shah Alam, owner of Alam Chemical Godown, and eight others, including factory owners and managers, for causing death by negligence. The complaint also accuses 10–15 unidentified individuals.
The case alleges that Shah Alam stored flammable chemicals in an unauthorized residential building for profit, leading to the deadly fire on Tuesday. The blaze spread rapidly to nearby factories—Evergreen Color Print, NRS WAS, and Shah Ali WAS—where exits were locked and no fire safety systems were in place. Trapped workers failed to escape as even the rooftop gates were padlocked. The complaint details the loss of lives and properties, including machinery, vehicles, and materials, with initial damages estimated at Tk 30 crore.
Authorities confirmed that all 16 victims’ autopsies have been completed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. DNA samples were collected to identify those burned beyond recognition. Among the identified victims are Mahira Akhter (14), Nargis Akhter (18), Nur Alam (23), Sanwar Hossain (22), Abdullah Al-Mamun (39), Rabiul Islam Robin (19), Muna Akhter Samira (14), Farzana Akhter (15), and Mukta Akhter (30).
Despite mounting public anger, no arrests have been made, said Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Maksuder Rahman, adding that investigations are ongoing. Survivors and families continue to demand justice and accountability for what many describe as a preventable tragedy caused by systemic negligence and unregulated industrial practices in residential areas
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