What happened to those missing in the Gazi Tyre factory fire?

The whereabouts of those missing from the Gazi Tyre factory fire in Rupganj, Narayanganj, remain unknown even a month and a half after the incident. Rescue operations by the fire service, local authorities, and a team from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) were halted due to the dangerous condition of the burnt building. 

Relatives of the missing individuals, desperate for answers, entered the unsafe building themselves and recovered several bones, but no formal rescue efforts have resumed since then. Families no longer gather at the factory gate, as those missing were not factory workers, leaving their relatives with no official means to file claims. In their grief, they continue to mourn silently.

A recent visit to the factory revealed the devastating aftermath: everything reduced to ashes, with debris and melted tire materials scattered across the site. Machinery lies abandoned, and the building's structure is severely damaged, with parts vandalized and plaster fallen off. 

Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of missing persons. Despite security at the factory, looting occurred in the aftermath of the fire, which broke out on August 25 and took 32 hours to extinguish. Some claim the fire was set intentionally during clashes over looted goods. While drones and ground searches found no evidence of bodies, relatives reported discovering bones inside the building.

The district administration initially listed 78 missing individuals, but confusion arose, and the final number remains unverified. Families continue to wait in agony, like Nazma Begum, whose son went missing after visiting the factory the night of the fire. Despite her efforts, she has found no trace of him. Similarly, relatives of others like Md Masud and Abdur Rahman are left without answers, mourning their loved ones.

Gazi Tyre's administration has also questioned the claims about finding bones, stating that no investigation report has yet confirmed whether the bones are human or related to the incident. Authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj, have yet to release the final investigation report to determine the number of missing individuals.