Hydrogen peroxide producing factory also owned by Smart Group
07 June 2022
Chattogram Bureau :
Al-Razi Chemical Complex Ltd, the factory that manufactured the inflammable chemical hydrogen peroxide which was kept in the BM Container Depot in Sitakunda that witnessed a horrific fire claiming at least 49 lives, is also owned by Smart Group, the same company that owns the depot. The chemicals were kept in the container yard of the depot without maintaining any safety measures for exporting to Cambodia.
An investigation found that around 850 tonnes of hydrogen peroxide produced by Al-Razi Chemical Complex located in the Thandachhari area of Fatehabad, Hathazari were brought to the depot on June 1 and 2.
The chemicals were packed in 33 containers and kept in the yard for export which was delayed due to a schedule mismatch with the international shipping company Maersk Line. All the containers were put in the container yard of the depot, not in a separate shed despite carrying highly inflammable chemicals like hydrogen peroxide.
Uttam Chakma, assistant commissioner, BM Container Depot off dock, said, “The company even wanted to take these chemicals back to the factory due to the delay in shipping schedule. But that did not happen.”
The fire service and civil defence have pointed at the hydrogen peroxide in the BM Container Depot for the huge fire. According to them, the fire started from a leak in a container filled with combustible chemicals.
