12 trapped as fire erupts at Dhaka mall

Dhaka: At least 12 persons were trapped when a fire broke out at the Bashundhara City shopping mall here on Sunday, authorities said.

They were stranded on the rooftop of the building and the fire fighters were trying to rescue them, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier, the fire fighters rescued at least 15-20 persons, an official said.

As many as 18 fire fighting units were trying to douse the blaze which erupted around 11.23 a.m. (local time), officials said.

Shoppers and staff of the mall were evacuated after the flames originated on the fifth floor of the mall, bdnews24.com reported.

The cause of the fire could not be confirmed immediately, an official said.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq said no casualties have been reported till now.

"If fire service needs, we can arrange helicopter to rescue the people who are now stranded on the rooftop," said Huq, adding that the engineering team of the Dhaka North City Corporation was also ready to help the fire servicemen.

On March 13, 2009, at least seven people were killed and 20 injured in the raging blaze that broke out at the same shopping complex.