Summary:
- Fire at Saudia residential hotel in Dhaka’s Shahjadpur area kills four due to smoke inhalation
- Blaze started around 12:15 PM, brought under control by 1:00 PM after 30 minutes of firefighting
- Building lacked fire safety measures, including narrow staircases and sealed windows
- Cause of fire under investigation, building owner not available for immediate comment
Four people died in a fire at a residential hotel in Dhaka’s Shahjadpur area on Monday, according to fire service officials. The victims succumbed to excessive smoke inhalation while trying to escape the blaze.
The fire broke out around 12:15 PM at Saudia, a six-story residential hotel in the Bashatala area of Shahjadpur. Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel responded within 10 minutes, deploying four units to the scene. They managed to bring the fire under control by 1:00 PM after about 30 minutes of effort.
“When we arrived, we saw intense fire and smoke on the second floor,” said Kazi Nazmuzzaman, Assistant Director of Dhaka Zone Fire Service. “The lower floor housed a hardware store, the second floor had a beauty parlor, and floors three to six were residential.”
The bodies of four victims were discovered after the fire was extinguished. Three bodies were found near the staircase, while one was located inside a bathroom on the sixth floor. Fire officials believe the victims attempted to reach the roof but were trapped when they found the door to the rooftop locked.
Nazmuzzaman noted several safety violations in the building:
No fire safety plan or fire suppression system was in place
Staircases were narrow
Windows along the stairs were sealed with glass, preventing smoke from escaping
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire service officials were unable to locate the building’s owner or management for immediate comment. A committee will be formed to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety standards in Dhaka’s buildings, particularly in residential and commercial structures that may not fully comply with safety regulations.
