Shawdesh desk:

A Criminal Investigation Department (CID) experts’ team has started collecting DNA samples of the victims to identify the bodies of the Chattogram container depot fire incident.

The CID team started collecting samples from the relatives of the dead in front of the emergency department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), from this morning, Azad Rahman, additional superintendent of CID confirmed it to BSS.

Alauddin Talukder, Assistant Sub Inspector of CMCH police out post, said the relatives of 17 victims had come to provide samples. CID forensic team members are collecting the samples, he said.

Meanwhile, the investigation committees also started their function from today, said Mizanur Rahman, additional divisional commissioner of Chattogram also head of a nine-member probe committee formed by Divisional Commissioner office.

The death toll in the devastating fire that caused explosions at BM Container Depot in Shitolpur area at Sitakunda upazila of the district has gone up to 49, an official said.

Among them a total of 23 victims have been identified and the rest will be identified after collecting samples from the relatives of the dead.

Alauddin Talukder said the death toll could rise further as few injured were severely burnt in the fire.

Meanwhile the fire at BM Container Depot, in Shitolpur area under Sitakunda upazila of the district is still not completely under control.

Ashraful Karim, Additional Superintendent of Sitakunda Circle, told journalists that there was no water left in the ponds surrounding the area of the depot to put out the fire.

The containers are being removed with the excavator and a path will be created as fire service personnel can supply the water to all the spots, he added.