A devastating fire at a popular beach resort in Bangladesh has killed 10 people, including children, after flames rapidly engulfed the wooden building and trapped guests inside.
Now, the tragedy has taken a troubling turn after authorities revealed that the resort had been warned about serious fire hazards months before the deadly blaze.
The fire broke out Saturday morning, October 17, at Tuptup Resto and Resort near Inani Beach in Cox’s Bazar, a popular tourist destination along the Bay of Bengal.
Guests were staying at the seaside property when the flames spread through the building around 7:30 a.m., leaving some with little time to escape.
Firefighters and local residents rushed to the scene, but the largely wooden structure burned rapidly as strong coastal winds fueled the blaze.
By the time emergency crews brought the fire under control, 10 people had lost their lives.
The victims included several women and a 5-year-old boy, while other guests suffered injuries while attempting to escape.
One of the most heartbreaking discoveries came when rescuers found that several victims had apparently sought refuge inside the resort’s bathrooms.
“Some people had taken shelter in the washrooms to save their lives, but they died there,” volunteer Saiful Islam told The Associated Press.
Local fire officials later confirmed that four victims were discovered in two bathrooms on the building’s second floor.
As investigators worked to establish what happened, disturbing questions emerged about whether the resort should have been operating at all.
Bangladesh’s Fire Service and Civil Defence revealed that the property did not have a valid fire safety license.
Even more troubling, inspectors had visited the resort in June and formally identified the building as hazardous.
Brigadier General Sultanul Afreen Junaid, director general of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the resort was issued a warning following that inspection but continued operating without the required fire safety approval.
Authorities also reported that the property lacked basic safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, fire alarms and a documented emergency evacuation plan.
The findings have raised serious questions about whether stronger enforcement could have prevented the tragedy.
The resort, which reportedly opened only seven or eight months earlier, had a restaurant on the ground floor and guest accommodations above.
Officials said its wooden construction, combined with powerful sea winds, contributed to the speed at which the fire spread.
Investigators have not yet determined what started the blaze.
One local official suggested that the fire may have originated near the resort’s kitchen, but that possibility remains unconfirmed.
As news of the deaths spread, the scale of the family’s losses became clearer.
Among those killed was 33-year-old Fariha Kabir and her 5-year-old son, Faizan Ahmed, who had traveled to the coastal destination with relatives.
Several other members of their extended family also died, including Fariha’s sisters Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, and Milita Mehezabin Alvi, 23.
Another relative, Nasir Uddin, 25, was also reported among the victims.
The family had reportedly been preparing to return home on the same morning the fire broke out.
One surviving family member managed to escape by jumping from an upper floor, according to local reporting.
Other victims included university students whose deaths prompted condolences from academic officials.
Some identifications remained provisional because authorities were awaiting DNA test results before formally releasing the victims’ remains to their relatives.
As grieving families searched for answers, police opened a criminal investigation into the resort’s management and operation.
Authorities filed a case naming resort owner Tanvir Ahmad as a principal accused, along with manager Mohammad Sumon and other individuals.
Sumon was detained Saturday afternoon and subsequently arrested in connection with the investigation.
Police have not publicly confirmed the whereabouts of the resort’s owner.
Investigators are examining the property’s safety arrangements, the warnings issued before the fire and whether those responsible failed to comply with applicable regulations.
The filing of a criminal case does not establish guilt, and authorities have not announced any convictions.
A separate five-member investigative committee has also been established to determine the cause of the blaze and examine possible regulatory failures.
The fire has drawn attention to safety concerns at tourist accommodations across Bangladesh, particularly properties built with highly combustible materials.
Cox’s Bazar is known for its long sandy coastline and attracts large numbers of vacationers from throughout the country.
Following the tragedy, fire service officials acknowledged that other resorts and tourist establishments may also lack the necessary safety approvals.
Authorities said they would work with local agencies and tourism organizations to improve oversight and address potentially dangerous properties.
For the families who lost loved ones, however, those promises come after an unimaginable tragedy.
What was meant to be a peaceful seaside getaway ended with 10 lives lost, multiple families grieving and investigators trying to determine why a resort previously flagged as dangerous was still welcoming guests.
As police continue their investigation, one question remains at the center of the case: Could the deaths have been prevented if the earlier safety warning had been acted upon?
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