Drug International factory remains closed following fire

Following a devastating fire, all operations, including production, at the Drug International Limited pharmaceutical factory in Tongi, Gazipur, have been suspended. A notice issued by the authorities states that the facility will remain closed until further notice.

The notice, signed by the factory in-charge, Mohammad Abu Sayeed, was posted at the main gate on Wednesday (October 14). The following day, Thursday, around 1:30 PM, Amjad Hossain, Superintendent of Police (SP) for Gazipur Industrial Police-2, also confirmed the closure of the factory.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service has completed the "dumping" (dousing of smoldering debris) and site security operations. Shahin Alam, Senior Station Officer at the Tongi Fire Station, stated that the dumping process concluded around 11:00 PM on Thursday. He added that there is no longer any risk of the fire reigniting.

The blaze broke out at the factory around 10:15 AM on Wednesday. The fire escalated rapidly, fueled by rubber materials stored beneath chemicals and aluminum foil. Twenty-one Fire Service units, supported by the Army, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the Gazipur City Corporation, worked to bring the situation under control. While the fire was contained by around 1:30 PM, it took approximately 12 hours to extinguish it completely.

Stakeholders are now awaiting further instructions from the authorities regarding when the factory’s operations might resume.

- RS/NS