On the night of 4 June 2022, in Kadamrasul area of Sitakunda, 40 km away from the port city Chittagong, Bangladesh, a fire broke out at a Dutch-Bangladeshi joint venture container depot called "BM Container Depot”, (BM Container Depot handles most of the country’s ready-made clothes, exports to the West ) and subsequent explosion (because the depot containers contained thousands of gallons of hydrogen peroxide), were killed at least 51 people and over 200 people injured (according to Bangladeshi English language Daily Newspaper: 'The Business Standard', 'New Age' & 'Dhaka Tribune'), including 10 firefighters (according to Fire service). Many are missing, many of them are crippled and helpless, and most of them are port workers, drivers, helpers, laborers and rescue workers. The force of the explosions hit buildings kilometers away. Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials, police said. This deadly blaze: one of the worst in industrial fire-prone Bangladesh’s history. In the end, it took about four days to put out the blaze. Depot authorities say they are allowed to keep chemicals. The Chittagong office of the Department of Explosives says that after the fatal accident, they first came to know that chemicals were kept there. The fire service says no one reported the hydrogen peroxide at the depot, 10 firefighters were killed while trying to put out the blaze, because they did not know that there was dangerous hydrogen peroxide inside the container. The reality is; hidden in the depot container was the deadly hydrogen peroxide, which the owner did not sense the need to inform anyone, not even the firefighters who came to put out the fire.
This is not the first time that a catastrophic disaster has occurred in Bangladesh due to chemicals. Every year after a fire in a chemical or plastic factory we find out that there was no permission from the Directorate of Explosives. Earlier, chemicals were also the main culprits in the fire at Nimtali of Old Dhaka, Churihatta and Shezan Juice Factory in Narayanganj. After the deaths of 124 workers in Nimtali, 71 in that tragic incident in Churihatta, 4 in Armanitola or 52 in Hashem Foods, we know that chemicals were stored there illegally. After 112 people died at Tazreen Garments, we knew that there was no fire extinguishing system in the factory. The problem is not just the chemicals; the main problems are irregularities, corruption, whimsy, lack of surveillance, a culture of irresponsibility and blaming each other. Especially; the tendency of the owners to have good relations with high-ranking government officials which gives the owners an unwritten license to be reckless and do whatever he pleases. Even; if you look for the owners in the various accidents that took place in Bangladesh, you will know that they were close people of the government, or they were running the business by managing them.
In December 2021, Rahima (20) was married to Monir (30), who had been working as a crane driver in the "BM Container Depot" for the last 6 years, who went missing at the depot in the aftermath of the fire and subsequent explosions. Rahima was 5 months pregnant and less than seven months into the marriage; when she heard her husband's name on the list of those missing in the worst chemical explosion in the history of Bangladesh, she was speechless, like a statue. There were tears in her eyes, but there was no response for days after days (More than a month after the disappearance; DNA tests identified her husband's charred body parts). On the other hand, cover van driver Sumon was seriously wounded and groaning in pain at ward 31 of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. His eyes and trachea were burned. Many parts of his body are burnt and scarred by chemical explosion and penis has been severely damaged. He couldn't eat with his mouth, had a tube inserted through his nose, and for several days small pieces of glass and metallic substance were removed from various parts of his body. Even two days after Sumon was injured in the chemical blast, his family was not able to come to Chittagong from Barisal as they did not have enough money to travel. Until the arrival of Sumon's father and wife on the third day, the young volunteers of the college were taking care of him day and night. Sumon's father's comment, Sumon is the only earner in the family; our whole family is now in the face of uncertainty. Severely injured Bablu has been holding his mother's hand all night; his mother has come from far away Kishoreganj to see his boy at Chittagong Medical College Hospital with Bablu's wife.
According to Deutsche Welle (DW); renowned lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua thinks the Sitakunda fire wasn't an accident but a "structural killing" because the owners knew in advance what could happen if the fire broke out. He said it would be difficult for victims to take legal action if such incidents were called accidents. Arrived from Dhaka, and led by a team of 20 skilled Firefighters and officers, to put out the fire; Assistant Director (Training) of the Fire Service M Hossain said; “The depot contained garments, various raw materials and clothing accessories and chemicals was put together. The rules are to keep chemicals in one place and garments items in another, the rules of storing weren't obeyed. Chemical items should always be kept in Isolation. Here; Chemical items weren't isolated." Those government officials; Those who receive a salary from the state to supervise the possibility of any accident related to fire, electricity or explosives in a factory, warehouse or any other workplace. If they are able to carry out their duties properly, the chances of an 'accident' are reduced, but if they do not fulfill their responsibilities, whether through bribery, pressure from political power, or mere negligence and indifference, then all these Structural Massacre in the name of Accident will continue. According to a study by Transparency International, 61% of members of parliament are businessmen and according to Dhaka University Associate Professor Moshahida Sultana; "The interests of the government cannot be separated from the interests of the businessmen. The businessmen have become politicians."
The BM Container Depot handles the majority of Bangladesh's ready-made clothing and exports to the West. Many workers in the country lose their lives trying to enter Europe illegally and spend years as refugees and illegal immigrants. Many of them fell into the grip of the brokers, lost all support and even their homes, drowned at sea and lived a dehumanized life in the forests and mountains. The violations continue into the present. There are explosions and fires regularly in the same area, in Kadamrasul area of Sitakunda, over a period of 8 months. On 04 March 2023, 6 people were killed and 25 injured in an oxygen plant explosion at “Shema Oxygen Oxico Ltd”, in Kadamrasul area of Sitakunda, and a few days later another nearby cotton factory took fire. In recent months, several fires have occurred in factories and markets in Dhaka, one of which is the "Bangabazar tragedy". On 24 April 2013 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, one of the most serious disasters in the history of the clothing industry occurred: the Rama Plaza building collapsed, killing more than a thousand workers, and more than 2,500 were seriously injured. Just five months later, in the same city, a fire killed another 112 people in a building called Tazreen Fashion. Those two events triggered a series of protests and complaints about the violation of the many rights of workers working in the sector in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, but also China, Mongolia, Vietnam or Myanmar.
This is my ongoing long -term project since 2022, where I have tried to be the voice of the neglected people to whom injustice and murder have been continued by the name of the accident. Those who were injured or killed were not mere accidents, rather there were structural killings.
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A team of highly trained firefighters from Dhaka wearing special protective clothing are seen inspecting the main blast site of the BM Container Depot which suffered a massive chemical blast after the fire This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 BM Container Depot in Sitakunda 40 km away from the port city Chittagong Bangladesh br br br On the night of 4 June 2022 a fire broke out at a Dutch-Bangladeshi joint venture container depot called BM Container Depot BM Container Depot handles most of the country s ready-made clothes exports to the West subsequent explosion because the depot containers contained thousands of gallons of hydrogen peroxide were killed at least 51 people over 200 people injured according to Bangladeshi English language Daily Newspaper TBS New Age Dhaka Tribune including 10 firefighters according to Fire service Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials police said This deadly blaze one of the worst in industrial fire-prone Bangladesh s history It took about four days to put out the blaze br br Depot authorities say they are allowed to keep chemicals The Chittagong office of the Department of Explosives says that after the fatal accident they first came to know that chemicals were kept there Fire service says no one reported the hydrogen peroxide at the depot Reality is hidden in the depot container was the deadly hydrogen peroxide which the owner did not sense the need to inform anyone not even the firefighters who came to put out the fire
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The day after the explosion Volunteer rescue workers rescued a charred body from the blast site the fire was still burning there was a possibility of more explosions Some volunteer groups Gausia Committee Chormonai were seen risking their lives to carry out the rescue operation without any protection before a highly trained firefighter s team from Dhaka reached the spot This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 BM Container Depot in Sitakunda 40 km away from the port city Chittagong Bangladesh br br On the night of 4 June 2022 a fire broke out at a Dutch-Bangladeshi joint venture container depot called BM Container Depot BM Container Depot handles most of the country s ready-made clothes exports to the West subsequent explosion because the depot containers contained thousands of gallons of hydrogen peroxide were killed at least 51 people over 200 people injured according to Bangladeshi English language Daily Newspaper TBS New Age Dhaka Tribune including 10 firefighters according to Fire service Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials police said This deadly blaze one of the worst in industrial fire-prone Bangladesh s history It took about four days to put out the blaze Hidden in the depot container was the deadly hydrogen peroxide which the owner didn t sense the need to inform anyone not even the firefighters who came to put out the fire
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Portrait of 40-year-old seriously injured Siraj His head face hands legs waist and other parts of her body were torn cut and burnt by chemical explosion He has two sons and a daughter and all are infants he is now speechless in Chittagong Medical College Hospital s bed More than the terror of the explosion Siraj is more afraid of the uncertainty of life as he is the only breadwinner in the family This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 Chittagong Medical College Hospital Chittagong Bangladesh br br br According to Deutsche Welle DW renowned lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua thinks the Sitakunda fire wasn t an accident but a structural killing because the owners knew in advance what could happen if the fire broke out He said it would be difficult for victims to take legal action if such incidents were called accidents
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A central ground view of the massive chemical explosion site at the BM Container Depot Thousands of gallons of exploded hydrogen-peroxide were found scattered around which was the cause of the explosion that followed the fire This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 BM Container Depot in Kadamrasul area of Sitakunda Chittagong Bangladesh br br Arrived from Dhaka and led by a team of 20 skilled Firefighters and officers to put out the fire Assistant Director Training of the Fire Service M Hossain said The depot contained garments various raw materials and clothing accessories and chemicals was put together The rules are to keep chemicals in one place and garments items in another the rules of storing weren t obeyed Chemical items should always be kept in Isolation Here Chemical items weren t isolated br br On the night of 4 June 2022 a fire broke out at a Dutch-Bangladeshi joint venture container depot called BM Container Depot BM Container Depot handles most of the country s ready-made clothes exports to the West subsequent explosion because the depot containers contained thousands of gallons of hydrogen peroxide were killed at least 51 people over 200 people injured according to Bangladeshi English language Daily Newspaper TBS New Age Dhaka Tribune including 10 firefighters according to Fire service Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials police said This deadly blaze one of the worst in industrial fire-prone Bangladesh s history It took about four days to put out the blaze Hidden in the depot container was the deadly hydrogen peroxide which the owner didn t sense the need to inform anyone not even the firefighters who came to put out the fire
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A person who was horribly injured in an oxygen plant explosion at Shema Oxygen Oxico Ltd is seen under treatment and battling death at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital On 04 March 2023 6 people were killed and 25 injured in an oxygen plant explosion at Shema Oxygen Oxico Ltd in Kadamrasul area of Sitakunda Within 10 months of the BM Container Depot explosion at Sitakunda the oxygen plant at Shema Oxygen Oxyco Limited at Sitakunda exploded This photo was taken on 05 March 2023 Chittagong Medical College Hospital Chittagong Bangladesh
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The day after the chemical explosion following the fire at the BM Container Depot located in Sitakunda a group of volunteer rescue workers called the Gausia Committee prays for a charred body after being rescued from the blast site The fire was still burning there was a possibility of more explosions Rescue operations were suspended as 10 firefighters of the fire service died in a chemical explosion while trying to extinguish the fire before the explosion Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials police said The possibility of another chemical explosion at any moment was high but in the meantime before a highly trained firefighting team from Dhaka Fire Service reached the spot a volunteer Sufi-spiritual-humanitarian organization called Gausia Committee were seen risking their lives to carry out rescue operations without any protection equipment This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 BM Container Depot in Sitakunda Chittagong Bangladesh br br On the night of 4 June 2022 a fire broke out at a Dutch-Bangladeshi joint venture container depot called BM Container Depot BM Container Depot handles most of the country s ready-made clothes exports to the West subsequent explosion because the depot containers contained thousands of gallons of hydrogen peroxide were killed at least 51 people over 200 people injured according to Bangladeshi English language Daily Newspaper TBS New Age Dhaka Tribune including 10 firefighters according to Fire service Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials police said This deadly blaze one of the worst in industrial fire-prone Bangladesh s history It took about four days to put out the blaze br br Depot authorities say they are allowed to keep chemicals The Chittagong office of the Department of Explosives says that after the fatal accident they first came to know that chemicals were kept there Fire service says no one reported the hydrogen peroxide at the depot Reality is hidden in the depot container was the deadly hydrogen peroxide which the owner didn t sense the need to inform anyone not even the firefighters
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Cover van driver Sumon was seriously wounded and groaning in pain at ward 31 of Chittagong Medical College Hospital His eyes and trachea were burned Many parts of his body are burnt and scarred by chemical explosion and penis has been severely damaged He couldn t eat with his mouth had a tube inserted through his nose and for several days small pieces of glass and metallic substance were removed from various parts of his body Even two days after Sumon was injured in the chemical blast his family was not able to come to Chittagong from Barisal as they did not have enough money to travel Until the arrival of Sumon s father and wife on the third day the young volunteers of the college were taking care of him over day and night Sumon s father s comment Sumon is the only earner in the family our whole family is now in the face of uncertainty This photo was taken on 06 June 2022 Chittagong Medical College Hospital Chittagong Bangladesh
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A view inside the BM Container Depot after the massive chemical explosion millions of dollars worth of goods were burnt or destroyed BM Container Depot handles most of the country s ready-made clothes exports to the West This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 BM Container Depot in Sitakunda Chittagong Bangladesh
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Severely injured Bablu has been holding his mother s hand all night his mother has come from far away Kishoreganj to see his boy at Chittagong Medical College Hospital with Bablu s wife His eyes and trachea were burned Many parts of his body are burned and scarred As a result of the explosion small metal parts were embedded in his body He is fainting due to intense pain but does not leave her mother s hand rather held tighter This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 Chittagong Medical College Hospital Chittagong Bangladesh br br On the night of 4 June 2022 a fire broke out at a Dutch-Bangladeshi joint venture container depot called BM Container Depot BM Container Depot handles most of the country s ready-made clothes exports to the West and subsequent explosion because the depot containers contained thousands of gallons of hydrogen peroxide were killed at least 51 people and over 200 people injured according to Bangladeshi English language Daily Newspaper TBS New Age Dhaka Tribune including 10 firefighters according to Fire service Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials police said This deadly blaze one of the worst in industrial fire-prone Bangladesh s history Hidden in the depot container was the deadly hydrogen peroxide which the owner didn t sense the need to inform anyone not even the firefighters It took about four days to put out the blaze br br This photograph shows us humanity love mercy courage connection sense of responsibility cooperation sincerity collaboration gratitude and compassion
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A firefighter is seen inspecting the main blast site of the Shema Oxygen Oxico Ltd which suffered a massive oxygen plant explosion On March 04 2023 6 people were killed and 25 injured in an oxygen plant explosion at Shema Oxygen Oxico Ltd Kadamrasul area in Sitakunda Chittagong Bangladesh A few days later another nearby cotton factory caught fire There are regular explosions and fires in the same area Kadamrasul area of Sitakunda within 8 months On the night of June 4 2022 a fire broke out in a container depot of a Dutch-Bangladesh joint venture called BM Container Depot which handles most of the clothes that are exported to the West The subsequent explosion caused by the unauthorized storage of hydrogen peroxide in the depot killed 51 people and injured more than 200 including 10 firefighters Of the 200 or so injured 50 were rescue officials police said This deadly blaze one of the worst in industrial fire-prone Bangladesh s history Most of these were dock workers drivers helpers labourers rescue workers This photo was taken on 05 March 2023 Shema Oxygen Oxico Ltd Kadamrasul area in Sitakunda Chittagong Bangladesh
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Most of the injured under treatment are suffering from eye problems with their eyes burnt by the chemical explosion that followed the fire Many have scars on their eyes face and various parts of their bodies As a result of the explosion small metal parts were embedded in many people s bodies This photo was taken on 05 June 2022 Chittagong Medical College Hospital Chittagong Bangladesh
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In December 2021 Rahima 20 was married to Monir 30 who had been working as a crane driver in the BM Container Depot for the last 6 years who went missing at the depot in the aftermath of the fire and subsequent explosions Rahima is currently 5 months pregnant Less than seven months into the marriage she is now speechless like a statue when she hears her husband s name on the list of those missing in the worst chemical explosion in the history of Bangladesh There were tears in her eyes but there was no response for days after days Note More than a month after the disappearance DNA tests identified her husband s charred body parts In the picture a mobile can be seen in Rahima s hand where her husband s wedding photo is displayed On the other hand her mother cried holding her husband s picture This photo was taken on 07 June 2022 Fakirhat Chittagong Bangladesh br br This family picture represents the hundreds of families affected by the deadly industrial fire-prone Bangladesh br
