Massive fire at Bashundhara City

A massive fire swept through the top floors of the Bashundhara City shopping complex in the capital this (Friday) afternoon.

At least one person was killed and 11 others were injured in the incident.

Huge flames were still shooting into the air and smoke was billowing out of the building, which houses different offices including the corporate office of the Bashundhara Group.

Glasses of the corporate office of the Bashundhara Group are melting down.

Originating from the 17th floor at about 1:00pm, the fire is engulfing the down floors gradually.

As of 4:30pm, the flame of the fire reached the 13th floor of the building.

Meanwhile, a helicopter rescued a man who was earlier trapped on the rooftop of the building. He was identified as Gazi Golam Mostafa, a member of the 18-member fire fighting team of Bashundhara Group who arrived there immediately after the fire broke out.

Rafiqul Islam, an official of Bashundhara shopping complex, told a private television channel that the main shopping mall of Bashundhara is still unharmed.

The flame engulfed a nearby furniture shop and the fire fighters doused it within short time.

Many fire-fighting units have arrived at the spot and are trying to douse the fire. But, they cannot pour waters on the flames, as their ladders cannot go beyond 13th floor.

Army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) joined the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the army, security agencies and all emergency rescue services to join the operations, the PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters.

Hundreds of thousands of curious people gathered the nearby roads.

The reasons of the fire could not be known immediately.