Concerns over Ramadan supply, river pollution as sugar factory fire rages

A fire that broke out at a large sugar refinery in Chattogram, owned by S Alam Group, on Monday afternoon was still not fully extinguished on Wednesday afternoon.

The fire service said it could take two to three more days to completely douse the blaze.

Initial estimates suggest the fire may have damaged up to 30,000 tonnes of sugar, raising concerns about local supplies ahead of Ramadan - the month of fasting for Muslims.

However, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu said the fire would not have a major impact on sugar availability or prices.

The burnt sugar waste has run into the nearby Karnaphuli River, causing it to turn colour and leading to dead fish emerging on the water. Locals and fishermen were seen collecting dead fish from the river on Wednesday morning.

Sources reported that chemicals and waste from the factory have been leaking directly into the Karnaphuli River through cracks in the factory's boundary wall.

Chattogram Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Abdullah Harun Pasha said while the fire is unlikely to spread further, it will take more time to bring it under full control.

"Raw sugar is stored throughout the area," he said. "Extinguishing the fire from below is not possible. Currently, our only option is to use water cannons. Ten fire service units are working to control the blaze."

Members of the army, navy and air force were working with the fire service to extinguish the blaze, said Masuma Jannat, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Karnaphuli Upazila.

The fire broke out in a warehouse at the sugar refinery on March 4 at around 4:00 pm. Mohammad Akhter Hossain, general manager (corporate) of S Alam Group, said the facility has five warehouses, each with a capacity of 60,000 tonnes.

Fishermen at Karnaphuli said dead fish have been seen in the river since Tuesday night.

Fisherman Nurul Amin, who arrived after hearing about dead fish floating in the river, said, "The river water is discoloured due to sugar mill waste. Many fish are already dead."

Another fisherman, Sajib Jolodas, said, "After hearing about the fish dying from chemicals, I started collecting them. Many people are fishing and they seem happy to get the fish."

However, Swapan Chandra Dey, an officer at the Fisheries Department in Karnaphuli Upazila, warned that the fish were dying due to lack of oxygen and it was unclear if they were safe to eat.

Meanwhile, local residents also reported eye irritation from fumes caused by the factory fire.

The fire engulfed a warehouse containing 400,000 tonnes of raw sugar imported from Brazil.

However, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu reassured the people public on Wednesday, saying, "Ramadan typically requires around 300,000 tonnes of sugar and the amount lost in the fire is less than 10 per cent of that demand. This incident is unlikely to affect sugar prices."