Two Bangladesh Air Force members die in Mirpur commercial building fire
The incident shed lights on the ongoing challenges of fire safety in Dhaka's commercial buildings.
ATT Desk Report 
Two members of the Bangladesh Air Force tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire that broke out at LA Plaza, a commercial building in Mirpur-2, Dhaka on 9 March- reports The Business Standard.
The deceased have been identified as Ayesha Siddiqa Ononna, hailing from Syedpur in Nilphamari, and Sheikh Rakibuzzaman, a resident of Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj. Mirpur Police Station Sub-inspector Ahsan Sohel confirmed their identities, stating that their bodies are currently preserved at the hospital morgue. Following completion of legal procedures today (10 March), the remains will be formally handed over to the Air Force authorities.
Family members of the victims are travelling to Dhaka to receive the bodies, with the Air Force overseeing the official handover process.
Fire details and rescue operation
According to Mirpur Fire Station Officer Shahjahan Siraj, the blaze originated on the third floor of the 11-storey structure around midday yesterday. The Fire Service received the emergency report at approximately 1:52 pm on 9 March.
Six firefighting units were immediately dispatched to the scene, successfully bringing the inferno under control by 3:22 pm. Firefighters completed extinguishing operations by 4:35 pm after several hours of intensive effort.
Talha Bin Jasim, Officer-in-Charge of the Fire Service media cell, provided details of the rescue operation. Firefighters rescued 24 individuals—14 men and 10 women—who had become trapped on various floors of the burning building. Using a Turntable Ladder (TTL), rescue teams evacuated victims from both the rooftop and multiple floor levels. Many other occupants managed to escape by reaching the roof before firefighters arrived.
Tragically, Ayesha Siddiqa Ononna and Sheikh Rakibuzzaman were discovered unconscious in the stairwell between the fourth and fifth floors during rescue operations. They were immediately transported to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where attending physicians pronounced them dead upon arrival.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of fire safety in Dhaka's commercial buildings and the bravery of first responders who risk their lives during such emergencies. An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to follow.
Read More: Flight cancellations: Airlines incur major financial losses
ME conflict forces cancellation of 300 flights in 9 days: CAAB
Middle East routes resume gradually: CAAB
Malnicherra tea garden emerging as a key tourism destination
Tourism sector faces uncertainty amid escalating Middle East conflict
Ottoman culinary traditions continue to shape iftar meals across South Asia
US suspends immigrant visas for Bangladeshi citizens, effective from January 21
Govt to reopen closed airports before building new ones
Bangladesh in the Eyes of an Indian Traveller
Busting Myths: What It's Like to Travel Across Bangladesh
Why Bangladesh Struggles to Attract Tourists
Bandarban: The Paradise of Nature
How Political Unrest Crushed Bangladesh's Tourism & Aviation Industry
Some Heritage Sites and Monuments of Bangladesh
