Confusion in Chawkbazar over number of death

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 11:15, Feb 22, 2019 | Updated : 11:23, Feb 22, 2019

The remains of victims of the Chawkbazar fire in Old Dhaka at the morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. REUTERSConfusion has arisen over how many people died in the fire accident in Chawkbazar.

The fire service says that 70 persons were killed whereas the head of forensic at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Sohel Mahmud says that 78 persons died.

Later on Thursday (Feb 21) night, Sohel Mahmud said that the actual number was 67.

At the press briefing, DG of fire service Brigadier Ali Mohammad Khan and mayor of DSCC Sayeed Khokon put the death toll at 70.

Fire service sources say that when the bodies were taken to the morgue, some had parts missing and since the separated parts were put in different bags, the number went up to 70.

Director of fire service and civil defence Major AKM Shakil Newaz told Bangla Tribune, “After taming the fire, we recovered dismembered bodies which resulted in a discrepancy in counting.”

An official of the district administration says, “There were some charred pieces in separate bags and possibly they belong to the 67 bodies; but they will be tested.”

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