Incidents that shocked Bangladesh in 2019

The world is set to welcome the New Year with a hope for a better future. The outgoing year, 2019, will be remembered for both good and bad incidents.

This year, Bangladesh witnessed scores of deaths thanks to dengue outbreak, frequent fire and other accidents, reports UNB.

Dengue outbreak

A dreadful dengue outbreak was seen from April this year. Though the mosquito-borne disease was initially identified in Dhaka city, it gradually spread to other parts of the country.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research examined 266 reported cases of deaths of dengue patients and so far identified 148 people who have died of the disease around the country.

Although dengue is a common phenomenon in Bangladesh, it broke previous death records this year. Normally, people get infected with the disease from April to October. But this year the outbreak has been lengthier.

A total of 101,319 people were admitted to hospitals across the nation with dengue disease. Of them, 100,951 patients were released from the hospitals after full recovery.

Comilla truck accident

Thirteen brick-kiln workers were killed when a coal-laden truck overturned on a labour-shed at Narayanpur in Comilla’s Chouddagram upazila on January 25.

Fifteen workers were sleeping inside the shed and the crash left 12 of them dead on the spot. Another worker succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.

Chawkbazar fire | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Chawkbazar fire 

When the nation was preparing to commemorate the 1952 Language Movement martyrs, a devastating fire broke out at a building in Chawkbazar’s Churihatta on February 20.

Before firefighters extinguished the blaze, which originated at a chemical warehouse and later engulfed the adjacent buildings, it claimed more than 70 lives.

FR Tower fire | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune FR Tower fire

A massive fire broke out on the FR Tower in Banani area on March 28, leaving 26 people dead.

Some of the deceased had died after jumping off the high rise. At least 73 people also sustained burn injuries in the incident.

Kulaura train crash

Six people were killed after Upaban Express tragically crashed in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar on June 23.

Four compartments of the train had plunged into a canal after derailment near Baramchal Railway Station.

Brahmanbaria train collision | Focus Bangla

Brahmanbaria train collision

At least 16 passengers were killed and over 100 others injured after a fatal collision between two trains on Dhaka-Chittagong route in Mandbagh Railway Station in Brahmanbaria’s Kasba upazila on November 12.

The collision between Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita Express from Chittagong and Chittagong-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet took place around 3am.

The accident occurred as the Turna Nishita loco master failed to obey the signal.

Sirajganj train accident

Four compartments of Rangpur Express train derailed and three of those caught fire immediately at Sirajganj’s Ullapara on November 14.

No casualty was reported in the incident, as all passengers had managed to come out of the bogies after breaking windows.

Keraniganj plastic factory fire | Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune

Keraniganj plastic factory fire

Twenty-two people burned to death in a fire that broke out at Prime Plate and Plastic Industries Ltd in Keraniganj on December 11.

Firefighters had recovered one body from the spot, while the others succumbed to their critical burn injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Gazipur factory fire

Ten people were killed and 15 others injured after a fire broke out at the Luxury Fan manufacturing factory in Gazipur Sadar on December 15.

The factory has been operating illegally without any government approval, investigators said.