Bangladesh
Rupganj Fire Rupganj factory fire: Forensic chief advises quick burial of charred corpses
Dhaka, July 10: More than 50 workers were killed in a horrific fire at Sajib Group's Hashem Food and Beverage Limited in Rupganj, Narayanganj. Dr. Mohammad Maqsood, Head Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Dhaka Medical College (DMC), has suggested that the bodies of the slain workers be buried quickly, on Saturday (July 10).
He said 15 bodies have already been sent to Suhrawardy Medical College due to lack of space. Several bodies are being kept in the morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Even if the bodies are kept in the morgue for the time being, if arrangements are not made for quick burial, rotting will spread a foul stench and pollute the environment.
Dr Mohammad Maqsood said a three-member team led by him performed autopsies on 48 bodies on Friday night. Except for one or two, the rest of the bodies have been burnt to ashes. There is no way to recognize by sight. They have preserved the ribcages as a sample to find out the identities of the victims through DNA.
He said that since there was no way of recognizing the bodies, the bodies shoud be buried unidentified akin to those killed in Rana Plaza and other accidents. They will give suggestions and advice to the police in this regard. According to the government's decision, the final decision will be made when the bodies will be buried.
A fire broke out at the factory of Sajib Group's Hashem Foods Limited in Rupganj on July 8 in the afternoon. Three people died on the first day of the incident. Fifty workers were injured.
Eighteen units of the fire service in Dhaka and Narayanganj brought the fire under control after a 20-hour effort. The bodies of 49 people, including 26 women, were recovered from the fourth floor of the building on July 9 morning. In all, the death toll rose to 52. After 29 hours, on the night of July 9, the fire came under complete control.
