DNA tests to be carried out  over Cox's Bazar fire

COX’S BAZAR, Oct 18: Police have filed a case against 23 people, including the owner and manager of Tup Tup Restro and Resort in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, over a devastating fire that killed 10 tourists. The resort’s manager, Mohammad Sumon, has been arrested. 

Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya Police Station Atikur Rahman Majumder confirmed the filing of the case and the arrest.

Besides, the authorities have decided to conduct DNA tests to confirm the identities of the victims before handing over their bodies to their families.

Sub-Inspector Ashish Kumar Sutradhar of Ukhiya Police Station filed the case on Saturday night. Tanvir Ahmed, owner of the resort, has been named as the principal accused. 

According to police sources, four people have been named in the case, while 19 others have been listed as unidentified accused.

Police arrested resort manager Mohammad Sumon from the scene on Saturday afternoon. Investigations are underway into the involvement of resort owner Tanvir Ahmed and the other accused. 

Meanwhile, relatives have been looking for a family of four since the fire incident. Nahidur Rahman Tuhin, an official at Dhaka-based Grand Power Limited, is missing with his wife, identified only as Afsana, and their daughters, 7-year-old Robaina and 3-year-old Sunaina -- both identified by single names.

Nahidur worked at the company’s office in Shyamoli and lived in the capital with his family. Relatives are anxious after failing to reach Nahidur since the fire. Family members and colleagues are asking around in different places to find them.

Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan said DNA testing would be conducted to avoid confusion regarding the recovered bodies, missing persons and identification of the victims. The bodies would remain at the morgue of Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital until the test results were available and the authorities decided on their release.

Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a five-member committee, headed by Additional District Magistrate Tasnim Jahan, to investigate the fire. The committee has already begun its work, according to the administration.