2010 Dhaka fire

{{Short description|Fire in the Nimtali area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 3 June 2010}}

{{Infobox news event

| title = 2010 Dhaka fire

| date = 3 June 2010

| image = Curious People around nimtola.jpg

| caption = A crowd of people day after the fire. The burnt buildings are in the centre.

| time = 10.30 pm BST Time

| place = Nimtoli, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh

| coordinates =

| also known as = Nimtoli tragedy

| cause = Electricity

| reported injuries = Approximately 200

| reported death(s) = 126

| suspects =

}}

The 2010 Dhaka fire was a fire in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 3 June 2010, that killed at least 124 people (117 on spot, others later in hospital).{{cite news |last=Hossain |first=Farid |date=4 June 2010 |title=Bangladesh fire races through buildings, kills 117 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRRVZFAZMj1a5-YrOitc0jaF3JuQD9G4I4T80 |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607073916/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRRVZFAZMj1a5-YrOitc0jaF3JuQD9G4I4T80 |archive-date=7 June 2010 |accessdate=4 June 2010}} The fire occurred in the Nimtali area of Old Dhaka.{{cite news |date=4 June 2010 |title=Death counts swell to 117 |url=http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=163302&hb=1 |work=bdnews24.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305093453/http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=163302&hb=1 |archive-date=5 March 2012 |accessdate=4 June 2010}}{{cite news |title=2nd anniversary of Nimtoli tragedy being marked |url=http://www.banglanews24.com.bd/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=37f4960c102124ed2af6ab2fa7f3f223&nttl=2012060543644 |work=BanglaNews24 |date=3 June 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231073022/http://www.banglanews24.com.bd/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=37f4960c102124ed2af6ab2fa7f3f223&nttl=2012060543644 |archive-date=31 December 2012 |accessdate=25 November 2012}}

Cause

The fire was started when an electrical transformer exploded.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65257K20100603|title=At least 40 dead in Bangladesh fire|date=3 June 2010|agency=Reuters|accessdate=3 June 2010}} The head of the fire department speculated that the fire was fanned by perfumes, chemicals and other flammable products stored in nearby shops. The density of the residential area affected made it difficult for firefighters to quell the blaze. Also, the narrow lanes of Old Dhaka and staircases of old buildings made it challenging for fire service equipment to reach the site.

Casualties

The fire affected multiple residential buildings in the Nimtoli area, and trapped residents inside apartments.{{cite news |date=3 June 2010 |title=85 dead, 100 injured in Bangladesh blaze: police |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hTxCoG19dN9NCBnfJoaRt2z3HIFg |agency=Agence France-Presse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606041512/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hTxCoG19dN9NCBnfJoaRt2z3HIFg |archive-date=6 June 2010 |accessdate=3 June 2010}} The fire started at {{Nowrap|10.30 pm}} and lasted for over three hours.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/04/dhaka-fire-deaths|title=Dhaka fire kills at least 77, injures 100|last=Jones|first=Alice|date=4 June 2010|work=The Guardian|accessdate=3 June 2010}}{{cite news |date=3 June 2010 |title=87 dead, 100 injured in Bangladesh blaze: police |url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100603/twl-87-dead-100-injured-in-bangladesh-bl-5aa7274.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |agency=Agence France-Presse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607000515/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100603/twl-87-dead-100-injured-in-bangladesh-bl-5aa7274.html |archive-date=7 June 2010 |accessdate=3 June 2010}} At least 117 people were killed and over 100 injured by the fire. The fire affected a wedding party, which exacerbated the casualties. One of the buildings affected by the fire had no fire escapes and its windows were covered by metal bars.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10238855.stm|title=Dhaka: City of construction death traps|last=Dummett|first=Mark|date=4 June 2010|work=BBC News|accessdate=4 June 2010}}

The injured were treated at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which struggled to cope with the large number of patients suffering burns and smoke inhalation.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Midnight-fire-kills-at-least-77-in-Bangladesh-capital--/articleshow/6009323.cms|title=Midnight-fire kills at least 77 in Bangladesh capital|date=4 June 2010|work=The Times of India|accessdate=3 June 2010}} According to a doctor at the hospital, most of the deaths appeared to have been caused by smoke inhalation rather than burns.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10232918.stm|title=Bangladeshi housing-block fire kills dozens|date=3 June 2010|work=BBC News|accessdate=3 June 2010}}

Rescue operations ceased on 4 June 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/04/dhaka-fire-bangladesh|title=Dhaka fire kills up to 150 in Bangladesh|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=4 June 2010|work=The Guardian|accessdate=4 June 2010}}

Reactions

Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, ordered an investigation into the fire. She also offered condolences to the victims and their families.{{cite news |last=Watts |first=Alex |date=4 June 2010 |title=At Least 100 Dead in Bangladesh Fire |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Dhaka-At-Least-100-Dead-In-Bangladesh-Fire-In-Kayettuli/Article/201006115643207?lpos=Home_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15643207_Dhaka%3A_At_Least_100_Dead_In_Bangladesh_Fire_In_Kayettuli |publisher=Sky News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606005959/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Dhaka-At-Least-100-Dead-In-Bangladesh-Fire-In-Kayettuli/Article/201006115643207?lpos=Home_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15643207_Dhaka%3A_At_Least_100_Dead_In_Bangladesh_Fire_In_Kayettuli |archive-date=6 June 2010 |accessdate=4 June 2010}} The government announced that 5 June 2010 would be a day of mourning.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0604/bangladesh.html|title=114 killed in Bangladesh fire|date=4 June 2010|publisher=RTÉ News|accessdate=4 June 2010}} The Bangladesh cricket team, who took the field the day after the fire during their tour of England, wore black armbands in remembrance.

Financial assistance

Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahany the chairman of M.M. Ispahani came up with financial assistance for the victims.{{Cite web |url=http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/24/162927 |title = Behrouze Ispahani dead {{!}} FIRST PAGE {{!}} The financial express |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202044702/http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/24/162927 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}