Shawdesh Desk;

The massive fire that broke out at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram has been finally doused after 86 hours as the death from the inferno has risen to 44 with the death of one move victim early Wednesday.

Lt Col Ariful Islam of Bangladesh Army’s 24 Infantry Division said the fire was completely extinguished around 12 noon. Some smoke is coming out from the garments products in the containers. We enquired the entire depot and did not find any new body.

“The depot had about 4,400 containers. Initial reports indicate that 400 containers were destroyed, he said.

Earlier Tuesday, the fire was brought under control on Tuesday after 60 hours.

Meanwhile, another victim of the fire succumbed to his injuries at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) early Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Masud Rana, son of Khalilur Rahaman of Jamalpur.

He breathed his last at ICU of the hospital at 3:30am.

The bodies of 26 of the deceased were handed over to their families following necessary procedures.

The rest 18 bodies have been kept at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) morgue as the victims could not be identified yet.

Samples from 39 people against 22 missing victims and unrecognised bodies were collected by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the temporary collection centre in front of the CMCH emergency unit for DNA test.

Mentionable, the massive fire coupled with sporadic explosions from chemical containers ripped through the depot from Saturday night. The massive explosions rocked four square kilometres area.

Many depot workers said black smoke started billowing initially from a container. The depot staff and workers tried to douse the fire.

They called in firefighters after they failed to bring the fire under control.

At one stage of the operation by several hundred workers, staff and firefighters, an explosion took place with a big bang from a container.

The blaze spread fast engulfing the adjoining containers reportedly containing hydrogen peroxide kept for export.

Later, sporadic explosions occurred at several containers, resulting in the massive casualties.