Reportage
The young man whose Facebook Live broadcast captured the deadly explosion that occurred as fire fighters fought the initial blaze at the BM Container Depot in Sitakunda on Saturday night has, as feared, died.
The deceased was identified as Oliur Rahman, son of Ashik Miah of Moulvibazar. He was a young worker at the Container Depot.
Oliur remained missing until Sunday noon. Later, his co-workers identified his body at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), confirmed one of his co-workers Ruel.
Ruel said Oliur might have died from the impact of the blast.
He said, "It was dinner time when the explosion occurred. We left the depot for dinner, but Oliur stayed there to make it live on Facebook."
Oliur went live from his Facebook when the massive fire broke out at the container depot in Sitakunda on Saturday night. He was informing everyone about the fire on Facebook Live.
The broadcast firefighters and other depot staff struggling to contain the fire. Around 41 minutes into his broadcast, a blast occurs and the screen goes black, indicating whoever was holding the phone had clearly lost control of it.
People calling Oliur's phone from that point onwards found it switched off and he went missing. The blast amid the fire is suspected to have also been the cause for the greatest loss of firefighters in a single incident in Bangladesh's history.
Oliur's relatives went to the CMCH to receive his body, said Ruel.
"The death toll from the fire climbed to 49 and there were seven fire service members among the deceased," said Anisur Rahman, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defense, while briefing reporters at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital over the deadly fire incident.
Besides, over 200 people suffered injuries.
Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense Assistant Director Faruk Hossain Shikdar said a large explosion rocked the area on Saturday night.
"The explosion was heard within a radius of 4km from the spot," Faruk added.
A total of 15-20 explosions occurred at the depot following the fire, he said.
Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters (media), said 13 firefighters are undergoing treatment at Chattogram Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
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