Bodies of 45 Chawkbazar fire victims given over to families

Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB)– Bodies of 46 victims of the devastating Chawkbazar fire were handed over to their families on Friday.

Forty-five bodies were handed over by 10am from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Family members received the mortal remains of another victim around 1pm, said DMCH camp in-charge Inspector Bachchu Miah.

Dozens of people were killed and injured in a fire that broke out at a chemical warehouse and spread to adjacent buildings in Chawkbazar on Wednesday night. Government officials said 67 bodies had been recovered from the site.
 
Additional Superintendent of Police (CID media) Sharmin Jahan said they started matching DNA sample of relatives with victims, who were beyond recognition, after 11am.

DMCH sources said DNA samples had been collected from relatives of 17 victims until 6:30pm. The Criminal Investigation Department is waiting to collect DNA samples from relatives of five other victims.
 
DMCH forensic department head Prof Sohel Mahmud on Thursday said they had collected DNA samples of victims whose bodies were beyond recognition.