Desperate search for missing people and bodies continued, and the inferno at the BM Container Depot Ltd in Sitakunda, Chattogram, was yet to be doused even after 44 hours of the incident.
People were seen moving from the spot to hospitals and police station to get clues of their near and dear ones, who did not respond after the massive fire incident - fuelled up by highly flammable chemicals.
The incident raised many questions about compliance at the private container depot, owned by Smart Group.
As the bodies were burnt severely and hard to identify, people rushed to the DNA testing spot.
Meanwhile, the district administration and health authorities revised the figure of death toll to 41 instead of the previously counted 49.
"Some bodies were taken to the Chattogram General Hospital morgue and were counted there once. The same bodies were counted again at the Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). This error pushed the death toll up to 49," said Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Md Mominur Rahman.
"Later, all the bodies were brought to the CMCH. As of now, 41 bodies have been found," he added.
The expert teams of Bangladesh Army and Fire Brigade were working to douse the fire until filing of this report at 9:00 pm on Monday.
On the day, Bangladesh Army personnel found out four more containers, loaded with hydrogen peroxide, at the BM Containers. The team was working to shift the containers from the depot for ensuring safety.
Lieutenant Colonel Ariful Islam, commander of 18th Brigade of 24 Infantry Division, told the journalists, "We've found out four more containers loaded with chemicals at the depot on Monday. We're working to shift the containers from there and control the fire."
Until filing of the report, the law-enforcers confirmed the identities of 25 dead persons.
Assistant Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Md Shahidul Islam said, "We've confirmed the identities of 25 ill-fated victims until Monday. We're handing over the bodies to their family members after DNA test. As the bodies are burnt severely and law-enforcers could not identify them, we needed to perform DNA test to confirm their identities."
Visiting the spot, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the journalists that the government would take stern actions against the people, who would be found guilty in the ongoing investigations.
"We'll not spare anyone. If anyone is found responsible for the fire at the BM Container Depot, he'll have to face punishment," he added.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel also visited the spot on Monday.
Sources at the Department of Explosives and the Department of Environment said the BM Container Depot authorities illegally stored chemicals at the depot without taking any safety measures.
According to the sources, there were 16 containers loaded with hydrogen peroxide at the BM Containers Depot Limited. Of these, one container blasted with a massive sound at around 10:15 pm on Saturday, originating the fire.
As a result, rest of the containers at the depot blasted one after one throughout the night.
The sources further said the BM Containers Limited is a concern of the Smart Group. There were around 4,000 containers at the depot on Friday.
The BM Containers authority illegally stored the products of Al Raji Chemical Factory Limited, another concern of the Smart Group. The containers loaded with the goods of Al Raji Chemical blasted at the depot on Friday.
Inspector of Department of Explosives Tofazzal Hossen said, "Hydrogen peroxide is a highly flammable chemical. It requires special infrastructure to store this kind of chemicals. The BM Container authority not even informed the directorate that they were storing such chemicals."
"The temperature needed to be controlled to store hydrogen peroxide and they needed to ensure that there was no locality in the adjacent areas of the depot."
"The BM Container authority neither has such kind of facility to store chemicals nor they obtained any licence from the Department of Explosives," he noted.
On the other hand, the Department of Environment said it would take actions against the BM Containers Limited for illegal storage of chemicals at its depot.
Department of Environment Director Mofidul Alam said after developing facilities one has to obtain a 'red category' licence to store chemicals. The BM Depot authority obtained an 'orange category' licence to store and handle containers and export-oriented goods like ready-made garment (RMG) and food items.
Replying to a question, he added that the BM Depot had no authority to store chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, and the department would take actions against the entity.
On the other hand, Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said the depot authority should have been careful for ensuring safety, as they were handling containers loaded with chemicals.
The CPA has formed a three-member committee, led by its terminal manager as the convenor. Its two other members are the CPA deputy director (security) and a representative of the Chittagong Customs House.
The committee would submit its report within the next seven days, he added.
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