2 accused surrender, seek bail in Bailey Road fire case that killed 46

Two accused in the case filed over the deadly
Bailey Road fire that killed 46 people on 29 February 2024 have surrendered
before a Dhaka court and sought bail.
Md Ramjanul Haque Nihad, proprietor of Amin
Mohammad Foundation, and Adib Alam, one of the owners of Fuoco Restaurant,
surrendered before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat
through their lawyers today (17 May) and applied for bail.
A hearing on the bail petitions is expected to
be held shortly.
Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad
Shamsuddoha Sumon confirmed the matter.
Earlier, on 19 April, the court took into
cognisance a charge sheet submitted by the Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) against 22 accused, including owners of several restaurants operating in
the Green Cozy Cottage building on Bailey Road. The court also issued arrest
warrants against 13 absconding accused.
On 2 April, CID Inspector Shah Jalal Munshi,
also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against
the 22 accused.
The accused named in the charge sheet include
owners and managers of Chayer Chumuk Coffee Shop, Kacchi Bhai, Khanaz, Tawaz
Restaurant, Zesty Restaurant, Fuoco Restaurant, Mezbanikhana, Ambrosia,
Pizzain, and Street Oven.
According to the charge sheet, the accused, in
collusion with one another, violated government rules and regulations by
operating restaurants illegally without obtaining approvals from relevant
authorities. They also used gas cylinders and electric ovens in the establishments
without complying with safety regulations.
The charge sheet states that these violations
led to the devastating fire at the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage building on
Bailey Road at around 9:45pm on 29 February 2024, leaving 46 people dead,
including three who were completely burnt in the blaze.
Following the incident, Sub-Inspector Mohammad
Shahidul Islam of Ramna Model Police Station filed the case.
















