52 people have been killed in an explosion at a six-storey factory located in Narayanganj, Bangladesh. The incident occurred on Friday, and it has caused shockwaves throughout the country. Condolences are pouring in from all corners.
Outside the Dhaka Medical College morgue, the crowd is growing. Their screams and cries are roiling the air.
Mohammed Ali, a senior operator at the building, was one of the victims. Ali, 27, called his brother just before he succumbed to the flames and informed him about the situation. He said that he couldn’t get out of the fire. He told his brother, “Please forgive me if you’ve done any wrong.”
After the news about the fire broke, public sentiment was volatile. While rescue efforts were underway, relatives of the victims reportedly attacked vehicles from outside the building. The rescue efforts were delayed by this incident for a few hours. The majority of those who died were daily wage-earners with low incomes.
BNP, the main opposition party, has blamed the ruling Awami Liga. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a statement on Friday requesting a thorough investigation of the incident and adequate compensation for the families of the deceased.
