At least six persons, including a Sri Lankan citizen, were killed and many others injured in a fire that broke out at FR Tower in Dhaka’s Banani area this afternoon.

SM Mostak Ahmed, deputy commissioner (Gulshan division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said, “We have so far confirmed death of six people in the fire.”        

Two of the deceased were identified as Abdullah Al Faruk, 35, and Niras Chandra, a Sri Lankan citizen. Identities of the other dead victims could not be known immediately.

Faruk, who suffered 90 per cent burns in the fire, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 4:20pm, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery of the DMCH, told The Daily Star.

The Sri Lankan national reportedly fell to his death while escaping the fire, said the hospital’s Director Brig Gen Qazi Rashid-Un-Nabi.

Besides, Abu Bakar Siddiq, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station, told The Daily Star that bodies of three victims were brought to the United Hospital this afternoon.

Helicopters were spraying water on the building as firefighters were bringing people out the window panes in groups, using ladders, our correspondent reports from the spot.

When the fire sparked around 1:00pm, at least six people were seen falling off while trying to escape the blaze. Many others were trying to climb down on the ledges.

About 20 persons were said to have been taken to Kurmitola General Hospital in an injured condition. Details of their injuries could not be ascertained immediately

RELATIVES LOOK FOR ‘MISSING’ ONES

Relatives were crowding Banani in search of their near and dear ones.

They were seen crying in despair and gathering in groups as they could not reach the phones of their family members.

Fire breaks out at FR Tower in the capital's Banani area around 1:00pm, Thursday, March 28, 2019. Photo: Pinaki Roy

One such aggrieved mother told The Daily Star that her daughter Aparajita Barua works in an office on the 12th floor of the building.

“During our last contact, she told us there were huge fumes in the building and that she was finding it difficult to breathe. Now, we can’t reach her on the phone,” she said.

Shahjahan rushes to the scene for his son, Ariful Islam Tusher, who has been trapped on 10th floor of FR Tower building at Banani in Dhaka. Fire breaks out at the high-rise building around 1:00pm on Thursday, March 28, 2019. Photo: Shaheen Mollah