Rashidul Islam, a tea-stall employee in Hatirpool, his wife and their two sons were on a rickshaw and passing through the lane of Chawkbazar where the fire broke out last night.

The family, which lives in Juriangul area of Lalbagh, was on their way to a dinner invitation of their elder son’s friend near Chawkbazar area on the fateful night.

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Trail of fire incidents at chemical warehouses

The four were on the same rickshaw when it came to a halt in front of the Hazi Wahed Mansion around 10:30pm. While stuck in traffic, the explosion occurred, throwing debris and sparks of fire on the four. As fire ripped through the area, the older child Ramim, 11, managed to jump off the rickshaw with six percent burns.

But his parents Rashidul, 39, Sonia Islam, 31, and his little brother Maheer, 4, all lost their lives in the incident.

The father’s body was found in an embrace with Maheer’s body, in the emergency morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Sonia’s body, too was found right there, Rashidul’s cousin brother Mohammad Hanif said.

Ramim was treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital last night.

The fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in Chawkbazar area of Old Dhaka last night and ripped through three nearby buildings. The death toll has now risen to 70, Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said.

Scores were injured in the fire that originated around 10:40pm yesterday.