10 dead after fire blazes at resort in Bangladesh:6 victims belong to same family; establishment operated without fire safety licence

At least 10 people, including six members of the same family, died after a fire broke out at a seaside resort in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district on Saturday morning. The fire broke out at Tuptup Resto and Resort at around 7:25 a.m. The three-storey wooden building was completely gutted in the blaze. Several people were also injured in the incident. The resort did not have approval for its fire-safety arrangements. Officials had also warned about this during an inspection in June. Fire suspected to have been caused by a short circuit Bangladesh newspaper Prothom Alo, quoting officials, reported that the fire was caused by a short circuit in the electrical wires. The fire then spread to the air conditioner. After a gas cylinder exploded, the fire quickly spread throughout the building. However, the actual cause of the fire will be known only after the investigation is completed. Around 30 people were present at the resort when the fire broke out. Of them, 4 to 5 people managed to escape somehow. There is still no clear information about the remaining people. Saved himself by jumping from the second floor; 5 people, including his wife, were burnt to death The three-storey resort was built of bamboo and wood. It was located on the outskirts of Kolatoli, a popular seaside area in Cox’s Bazar, around 410 kilometres from the capital, Dhaka. According to reports, Ashikul Islam had come to the resort with his family for a holiday. When the fire broke out, he saved his life by jumping from the second floor. However, his wife, Israt Jahan Maliha, and five other family members died. According to hospital officials, the 10 victims identified so far include Israt Jahan Maliha (30), Milita Mehezabin Alvi (23), Laila Jahan Nabila (27), Nafista Mim (27), Fariha Kabir (33) and five-year-old Faizan Ahmed.