Fire Service had warned resort in June
They had come to Cox’s Bazar to enjoy the sea and spend happy moments with their families. Ashiqul Islam was supposed to return to Dhaka with his family on Saturday. But the holiday turned into a nightmare when a fire at TupTup Restro and Resort in Patowartek, Inani, Ukhiya, killed 10 tourists. Ashiqul escaped by breaking a window and jumping from the second floor, but lost his wife, five-year-old child and four other family members.
Meanwhile, a woman’s desperate cry, “Bring my Saif back,” as she searched for her loved one outside the burnt resort, has spread on social media.
The fire broke out at around 7:00 am on Saturday, October 17, at the three-storey wooden resort beside Marine Drive. Six bodies were initially recovered, followed by four more from the toilets. Seven people were injured.
The incident has raised serious questions about the resort’s fire safety. Fire Service Director General Brigadier General Sultanul Afreen Junaid said at a press conference in Dhaka that the resort had no fire safety licence and had been warned about safety issues in June.
Police have detained the resort’s manager, Mohammad Sumon. The deputy commissioner suspects a kitchen stove ignited the fire, but Sumon says an electrical short circuit caused it.
Four bodies recovered from toilets
Fire Service personnel searched different parts of the building after bringing the fire under control. The bodies were badly burnt, making identification difficult.
Additional District Magistrate of Cox’s Bazar Tasnim Jahan said 10 bodies had been recovered, but their identities could not immediately be established. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abul Mannan said DNA samples were being collected and the bodies would be handed over to families after identification through DNA matching.
Those initially identified included Israt Jahan Maliha, 30; Milita Mehezabin Alvi, 23; Laila Jahan Nabila, 27; Faizan Ahmed, 5; Sabrin, 23; Jerif, 18; Nafista Mim, 27; Nasrin Akter Mukta, 29; and Faria Kabir, 33. Officials said DNA testing was needed to match the names with the recovered bodies.
Man loses six family members
Ashiqul Islam lost his wife, five-year-old son, brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law in the fire. Breaking down at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, he said his wife, Israt Jahan Maliha, woke him after noticing the fire and went to alert relatives in a nearby room.
As the flames spread rapidly, Ashiqul broke a window and jumped out, but his wife could not escape.
He said he had brought 10 family members to Cox’s Bazar. They arrived on Thursday morning and stayed at the resort near Patowartek beach.
They were scheduled to return to Dhaka on Saturday. His brother-in-law, Nure Alam Ifti, had returned to Chuadanga on Friday night for work, leaving nine family members at the resort when the fire broke out.
Ifti later learned that his wife, Faria Kabir, 33; son Faizan Noor, 5; brother-in-law Nasir Uddin, 25; and three sisters-in-law — Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, and Milita Mehezabin Alvi, 23 — had died.
Nafista Mim, 27, and Nasrin Akter Mukta, 29, were also among the deceased. Two other victims had not been identified at the time.
Six people were injured: physician Shihab Uddin, 31; his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29; Ismail Hossain Masud, 30; his wife Meherun Nessa, 27; Mannan, 34; and Samida, 32.
Hospital officials said five people had burn injuries covering about 5 per cent of their bodies, while another person injured in a fall was discharged after primary treatment.
The overall reported injury toll was seven, although officials needed to confirm the identity of the additional injured person.
Ismail Hossain and Meherun Nessa are Faria Kabir’s maternal uncle and aunt. They are from South Thetalia village in Matlab Uttar, Chandpur.
Conflicting accounts of the fire
Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan said the fire might have originated from a stove in the resort’s kitchen.
Sumon, however, said an electrical short circuit caused the fire. Staff tried to extinguish it, but the air conditioners and gas cylinders exploded, allowing the flames to spread throughout the building, he claimed.
Police detained Sumon in connection with the incident. Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director in Cox’s Bazar Syed Morshed Hossain confirmed the recovery of all 10 bodies on Saturday afternoon.
No fire safety licence
Local residents alleged that the resort lacked adequate firefighting equipment, effective emergency exits, and arrangements to evacuate guests. They also raised concerns about its electrical connections and gas cylinder storage.
Resident Shamsul Alam said the resort was attractively arranged but had no alternative exit for emergencies. He also alleged that the area where gas cylinders were kept was unsafe.
Another resident, Imam Hossain, said wooden resorts need modern firefighting equipment, which he did not see at the property.
At a press conference at Fire Service headquarters in Gulistan, Dhaka, Director General Sultanul Afreen Junaid said the resort had no fire safety licence or approval and had been warned about safety issues in June.
Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Syed Mohammad Morshed said this was the first fatal resort fire in Cox’s Bazar. Many of the more than 500 hotels, motels and resorts in the district did not have fire safety licences, and the authorities would identify them and take action, he said.
Call for stronger safety oversight
H M Nazrul Islam, organising secretary of the Cox’s Bazar district committee of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, said that tourism development could not be limited to increasing the number of hotels and resorts.
He said authorities must regularly check licences, fire safety equipment, and emergency exits; identify establishments with safety deficiencies; and ensure accountability.
The deputy commissioner said a five-member investigation committee, led by the additional district magistrate, has been formed to determine the cause of the fire, the reasons for the deaths, and the resort’s safety arrangements.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances behind the tragedy and determine possible responsibility.
By Tarekur Rahman
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
