Tuptup Resort in Cox’s Bazar, where 10 people were killed in a fire on Saturday, was issued a notice in June over building safety risks but continued operations without addressing the concerns, Fire Service and Civil Defence director general Sultanul Afrain Zunaid has said.
Speaking at a press conference at the Fire Service headquarters in Gulistan, Dhaka, on Saturday, he said an inspector visited the resort on June 11 and issued a notice warning that the building was risky.
‘They continued their business without paying heed to the notice,’ he said.
‘Directly speaking, they were operating the resort without permission,’ the DG added.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the fire at the resort in the Patuertek area of Inani Beach in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar rose to 10 on Saturday, according to the Fire Service.
Officials said six people were injured in the fire, and the casualty count could rise further.
The fire broke out around 7:00 am and spread quickly, Fire Service spokesperson Talha Bin Jashim said.
Two firefighting units rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control at around 8:15 am. The Fire Service said the fire was completely extinguished at around 11:00 am.
Firefighters recovered six bodies from different rooms of the resort and four from a bathroom. Some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, Talha said.
He said the death toll could rise as search operations continued, with firefighters yet to complete checks in at least two other bathrooms.
Local residents took some of the injured to different hospitals soon after the fire broke out, but the spokesperson added that the number could not be confirmed immediately.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk
