Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq said he wonders why the Bashundhara City shopping mall catches fire so often. A fire broke out at the mall on the city’s Panthapath around 11am. The fire service said the flames were almost under control after two hours of efforts around 1:00pm. Mayor Annisul and journalists rushed to the spot soon after news of the fire spread. Replying to queries from the press over the cause of the fire, Annisul said, I also want to know why this mall catches fire again and again.
On March 9, 2009, a fatal fire had swept at the same mall, claiming seven lives and injuring more than 100. Another incident of fire occurred in August the same year and another in September 2015. No casualties have been reported so far in the Sunday fire. Smoke could be still seen billowing out of the building. The fire service is trying to rescue a few people trapped on the roof of the building. According to unconfirmed reports, electrical malfunction caused the fire, but authorities are yet to comment on it.
