The death toll in the fire at a high-rise commercial building in Dhaka’s Banani has risen to 19, said officials.
At least 68 others have been injured in deadly blaze that broke out at the 22-storey ‘FR Tower’ on the Kamal Ataturk Avenue in the upmarket commercial area, according to the media centre set up at the spot.
The fire broke out on the eighth floor of the building on Banani Road 17 around 1pm and spread to other floors soon after.
After nearly six hours of frantic effort, the flames were brought under control, Fire Service Director (Development and Planning) SM Zulfiqer Rahman told the media.
Over 20 firefighting units rushed to the scene to battle the flames and rescue people, who were later joined by members of the army, navy and air force.
Helicopters dropped water on the burning building from above while hundreds of panicked relatives and friends gathered outside the building.
People were seen shouting for help from windows and several jumped out of the burning building.
Several people trapped inside the buildings took shelter on the roof and were trying to escape into the adjacent buildings.
Many of them tried to escape through the rooftops or to get down by climbing down cables.
The cause of the fire could not be known immediately.
'The building wasn't equipped to deal with fire'
