Probe committee formed over fire at Drug International factory

The Fire Service and Civil Defence has formed a five-member investigation committee to determine the cause of a fire at the pharmaceutical factory of Drug International Limited in Cherag Ali, Tongi, Gazipur.

The committee will formally begin its investigation on Monday to assess the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.

Senior Tongi Fire Service official Shahin Alam disclosed the information at around 8:30pm on Sunday.

He said Lieutenant Colonel Md Mahmudul Hasan, director (operations and maintenance) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, would lead the five-member committee.

The fire broke out at Unit-2 of Drug International Limited in the Cherag Ali area around 10am on Wednesday, October 14. A total of 21 fire service units worked to bring the blaze under control, which took around four hours. The fire was completely extinguished at around 10:30pm that day, and the factory was handed over to the authorities.

The following day, October 15, the factory authorities issued a notice announcing the indefinite closure of the unit. Production has remained suspended since then.

Several days after the incident, details about the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage remain unknown. The factory authorities declined to comment to the media when contacted.

Further details are expected to emerge after the investigation committee submits its report.