United News of Bangladesh

At least four people were killed and two others injured after a fire broke out in a hotel building at Shahjadpur Bus Stand, Dhaka, on Monday. The fire originated on the first floor of the five-storey building, which houses Saudia Residential Hotel on the second to fifth floors. The Golden Tulip Beauty Parlour is located on the first floor, where the fire is believed to have started. According to Talha bin Jasim, station officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, the bodies of four victims were recovered from different areas of the building. One was found inside a hotel bathroom, while three others were discovered on a locked staircase leading to the rooftop, suggesting they may have suffocated while attempting to escape. Firefighters received the first distress call at 12:17 pm, and two units were dispatched immediately. The blaze was brought under control by 1:03 pm and fully extinguished by 1:40 pm, said Rashed Bin Khalid, duty officer at the fire control room. Speaking at the scene, Assistant Director of Fire Service Kazi Nozmozzaman stated that the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but initial suspicions suggest it started inside the beauty parlour. He reiterated that the locked staircase door may have played a role in the victims' deaths. Rafiqul Islam, owner of Ruma Digital Studio on the ground floor, said he was outside when the fire broke out. Upon returning, he found the blaze had started in the beauty parlour. Later, he went upstairs and discovered an elderly man’s body in a hotel bathroom, likely a victim of suffocation. The deceased were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination. One of the victims was identified as Miron Jamadar, 55, from Bhandaria, Pirojpur. His brother-in-law, Hiron Talukdar, confirmed that Miron had checked into the hotel with his son, Munim, 23, earlier that morning. Munim was not present at the time of the fire, as he had been staying elsewhere. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.