At Least 10 Killed in Cox’s Bazar Resort Fire, Including Women and Child

At least 10 people, including women and a child, were killed and nine others injured in a devastating fire at Tuptup Resto and Resort in Patuartek, near Inani Beach in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Saturday morning.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the three-storey resort, one of the tourist facilities near the Marine Drive coastal highway. Authorities have so far identified six of the victims, while efforts are underway to establish the identities of the others.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, they received reports of the fire at around 7:15 am. Firefighters rushed to the scene, brought the blaze under control and launched a rescue operation. Bodies were subsequently recovered from inside the building.

The number of casualties could rise, as authorities continue to assess the situation.

Guests Trapped as Fire Spread Rapidly

Local sources and eyewitnesses said between 18 and 23 tourists were staying at the resort when the fire broke out.

As the flames spread rapidly, some guests managed to escape by breaking windows, while others became trapped inside. Large portions of the building’s interior were gutted by the fire.

Rescuers searched the rooms after bringing the blaze under control and recovered the bodies of the victims.

Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Panna Akter said the fire might have originated from a gas cylinder explosion in the ground-floor kitchen. However, an investigation will be needed to determine the actual cause.

An inspection of the building indicated that, although its exterior structure was made of concrete, substantial portions of the interior walls and floors were constructed of wood. The materials may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

Resort Reportedly Lacked Fire Safety Licence

Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Sultanul Afreen Junaid said the resort did not have a fire safety licence.

Media reports also indicated that the establishment had previously been identified as a fire risk during an inspection and had been warned about the danger.

If confirmed, the reports could raise questions about why the resort continued operating despite the alleged warning.

Authorities have yet to establish whether any safety violations directly contributed to the deaths.

Six Victims Identified

Authorities have so far identified six of those killed in the fire:

• Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, from Banasree in Dhaka
• Milita Mehezabin Alvi, 23
• Layla Jahan Nabila, 27, from Khilgaon in Dhaka
• Nafista Mim, 27, from Khilgaon in Dhaka
• Fariha Kabir, 33, from Chuadanga
• Faizan Ahmad, five

The identification of the remaining victims is ongoing.

Nine Injured, Two Reportedly in Critical Condition

Preliminary information identified several injured people, including Mugda Medical College Hospital physician Shihab Uddin, 31, and his wife, Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29.

Others reported injured were Mannan, 34; Meherunnesa, 30; Masud, 30; and Samida, 32.

Two of the injured were reportedly in critical condition. Further details about their treatment and the condition of the other injured people were not immediately available.

Authorities Inspect the Scene

Following the incident, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Superintendent of Police ANM Sajedur Rahman and Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Panna Akter visited the site.

Police, firefighters and local residents participated in the rescue operation.

Rimon Ghosh, officer-in-charge of the Inani Police Outpost, said police joined firefighters at the scene after receiving reports of the blaze. They also checked whether anyone remained trapped inside the resort.

Superintendent of Police Sajedur Rahman said firefighters conducted an extended operation to recover the bodies. He added that the condition of some of the bodies made it difficult to distinguish between male and female victims.

Questions Over Possible Negligence and Safety Standards

The speed with which the three-storey building was engulfed in flames has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Some local voices have urged authorities to examine whether the fire was purely accidental or whether any deliberate act was involved. No evidence of arson or sabotage has been established publicly, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Local lawmaker and Cox’s Bazar district BNP president Shahjahan Chowdhury criticised what he described as negligence and shortcomings by the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority, alleging that the wider Ukhiya-Teknaf coastal tourism area was becoming increasingly congested instead of developing as a modern, planned destination.

Tourism industry stakeholders have also raised concerns about hotels, motels and resorts operating without adequate planning, approvals or safety arrangements.

They stressed the need for regular inspections of building permits, fire safety systems, emergency exits, firefighting equipment and gas connections.

AB Party leader Shamsul Haque Sharek and others associated with the tourism sector have called for stronger oversight and accountability. Some have also demanded that the resort owner be questioned as part of the investigation.

Renewed Calls for Stronger Fire Safety Enforcement

The deadly fire has renewed concerns about safety standards at hotels, motels and resorts in Cox’s Bazar, one of Bangladesh’s busiest tourism destinations.

Industry observers say authorities need to coordinate more effectively to ensure that tourism establishments comply with construction regulations and fire safety requirements.

They have called for regular inspections, enforcement action against unsafe buildings and a comprehensive investigation to establish the cause of the fire and determine responsibility.

Ensuring safe emergency exits, properly maintained firefighting equipment and secure gas installations will be critical to reducing the risk of similar tragedies in the future.