A devastating fire at a popular beach resort in Bangladesh killed 10 people, including a 5-year-old boy, after flames swept through a wooden building that authorities say had been operating without proper fire safety approval.
The tragedy unfolded Saturday morning, October 17, at Tuptup Resto and Resort near Inani Beach in Cox’s Bazar, a major tourist destination along the Bay of Bengal.
The blaze broke out around 7:30 a.m. and spread rapidly through the three-story resort, which housed a restaurant on the ground floor and guest accommodations above.
Many visitors were still asleep when the fire began. As flames engulfed the building, some guests reportedly sought refuge in bathrooms, hoping to escape the spreading fire.
“Some people had taken shelter in the washrooms to save their lives, but they died there,” volunteer Saiful Islam told the Associated Press.
Firefighters arrived as the blaze consumed much of the wooden structure. Strong coastal winds reportedly contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, complicating rescue efforts.
Authorities confirmed that 10 people died. Several others were injured, with local hospital officials reporting six patients receiving treatment.
Among the victims was 5-year-old Faizan Nur, who had traveled to the coastal resort with his family for a vacation.
The tragedy was particularly devastating for one family, which lost six relatives, including the young boy, his mother, three aunts and an uncle.
Other victims included university students who had been visiting the popular beach destination during a holiday.
As grieving families struggled to comprehend the loss, troubling details emerged about the resort’s safety record.
Bangladesh’s Fire Service and Civil Defence revealed that the property had been operating without a valid fire safety license despite receiving an official warning months earlier.
Fire service Director General Sultanul Afreen Junaid said inspectors had visited the resort in June and classified it as hazardous. A formal notice was issued on June 11, but the property reportedly continued operating.
Officials also said the resort lacked essential fire protection equipment, including alarms, extinguishers and an adequate emergency response plan.
The revelations have raised serious questions about why the property was allowed to accommodate tourists after authorities identified potential safety hazards.
Police have since opened a criminal investigation involving 23 people, including resort owner Tanvir Ahmad and manager Mohammad Sumon.
Sumon was detained following the fire, while authorities continued searching for the owner. Four suspects have been named in the case, with another 19 listed as unidentified.
Investigators have not established the exact cause of the blaze. Officials initially suggested that it may have originated near the resort’s kitchen, but that possibility remains under investigation.
A five-member committee has been formed to examine what caused the fire, whether safety regulations were violated and whether failures by authorities contributed to the tragedy.
The disaster has also renewed scrutiny of building safety at tourist accommodations in Cox’s Bazar, where beachfront resorts and guesthouses attract visitors from across Bangladesh.
For families who had traveled to the coast expecting a relaxing vacation, the tragedy has left an unimaginable loss.
Authorities are continuing DNA testing to confirm the identities of victims whose remains could not be immediately identified, while investigators work to determine why repeated safety concerns apparently went unaddressed before the deadly fire.
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