Bangladesh: Fire breaks out in mall fourth time, 12 trapped

A fire broke out at a shopping mall in the Bangladeshi capital on Sunday, with authorities evacuating shoppers and staff but 12 people remained trapped inside the complex. The fire originated from a leather shop on the sixth floor of the eight-storey building in Bashundhara City here around 11:20 AM. 19 people, including three women, were rescued by fire fighters who brought the flames under control after two hours of efforts.

"12 persons were trapped on the roof of the eight-storey mall. They are safe and the fire-fighters are trying to rescue them," an official was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com. "We rescued a total of 19 people including three women from two rooftop around 4:14 PM. They had taken shelter on the rooftop in panic," Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy Director Mizanur Rahman said. The cause of the fire - the fourth such incident in the same mall - could not be confirmed yet. "I also want to know why this mall catches fire again and again," Dhaka Mayor Annisul Huq said, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Two more units joined the fire service team, Rahman said. He also said that several more people were on the rooftop of the building and firemen were trying to rescue them. No casualties have been reported so far. Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Sheikh Maruf Hasan said: "We have not got any report of casualties so far but a lot of people are stuck on the terrace".