Bangladesh
Chemicals intensified fire at Tongi pharmaceutical factory
A fire at Drug International’s Unit-2 plant in Tongi damaged two buildings before being brought under control after more than three hours. Fire officials said chemicals and flammable roofing material accelerated the blaze; no deaths were reported.
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From 15 October 2026 — Daily Brief
A major fire at Drug International’s Unit-2 factory in Tongi damaged two buildings before firefighters brought it under control on Wednesday afternoon.
The blaze began shortly after 10am at the pharmaceutical plant in the Cherag Ali area and spread from one building to another. About 20 Fire Service units took part, supported by army, Border Guard Bangladesh and police personnel.
Fire Service Director General Sultanul Afrain Zunaid said chemicals used in pharmaceutical production and flammable rubber beneath aluminium roofing intensified the fire. Dense smoke made access difficult, and one firefighter experienced breathing problems. Factory staff were evacuated and no deaths were reported by the time the fire was controlled.
Officials said damping operations continued after the main flames had been suppressed. The cause remained under investigation, as did the scale of the damage.
The incident renews scrutiny of fire protection and chemical storage in industrial buildings around the densely populated Gazipur manufacturing belt. Investigators will need to establish whether the plant’s storage arrangements, exits and fire-control systems met required standards, and whether hazardous materials were properly separated.