Police have filed a case against the owner and manager of Tuptup Resort in Inani, Ukhiya, over a fire that killed 10 people. The resort’s owner, Tanvir Ahmed, has been named the prime accused, while manager Mohammad Sumon has been arrested.
Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman Majumder confirmed the information on Sunday morning. He said Sub-Inspector Ashish Sutradhar filed the case on Saturday night.
The officer-in-charge said four people have been named in the case, while 19 others have been accused without being identified.
The fire broke out at around 7:00am on Saturday at the resort beside Patwartek beach along Marine Drive. Two Fire Service units brought the blaze under control at 8:15am. Rescuers later recovered 10 bodies from the site.
Police said the bodies were badly burned, making it impossible to confirm the victims’ identities without DNA testing. As part of the investigation, police are collecting information about those killed, injured and reported missing.
Meanwhile, the Fire Service said it had formally warned the resort authorities about fire safety risks four months before the incident. The resort lacked a fire safety license.
According to the Fire Service, an inspector visited the resort in June and identified the building as a fire safety risk. The authorities subsequently issued a formal notice to the resort management on June 11.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
