A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against 13 absconding accused in connection with the deadly fire at a building on Bailey Road that claimed 46 lives.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana passed the order today (19 April) after a hearing, following the submission of a charge sheet by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against 22 individuals, including several restaurant owners operating in the building.
The court also fixed 19 May for the next hearing on the execution of the arrest warrants, confirmed Sub-Inspector Jinnat Ali of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s prosecution division.
Nine of the 22 accused were present in court, while the remaining 13 were absent, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants against them.
The fugitives include owners and associated individuals from several restaurants operating in the building, such as Mezbanikhana, Ambrosia, Pizzain, Street Oven, and Fuko, among others. The rest of the accused are currently on bail.
Earlier, on 2 April, the case’s investigating officer, CID Inspector Shah Jalal Munshi, submitted the charge sheet against the 22 accused.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly operated restaurants in violation of government regulations, without proper approvals from relevant authorities. They are also accused of using gas cylinders and electric ovens in an unsafe and unauthorised manner, which contributed to the fire.
The blaze broke out around 9:45pm on 29 February 2024 at the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage building on Bailey Road. A total of 46 people were killed in the incident, including three who were completely burnt.
The case was filed by Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Ramna Model Police Station following the incident.
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