Online Desk: At least 28 people fell sick from the heavy smoke while firefighters were trying to douse the blaze that broke out at Dhaka’s New Supermarket — next to New Market — early Saturday.

Of them, 13 were firefighters, three Ansar members, one Air Force sergeant, one volunteer and one rickshaw puller, and 13 shop owners and workers, said inspector Bacchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpost. They are now receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he added.

The fire at New Supermarket was brought under control around 9:10 am. A total of 28 firefighting units and teams of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force took part in the effort to douse the fire. Twelve Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) units were also engaged.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said that the latest fire incidents in the capital are being investigated to see if there was any sabotage. He said this while briefing the media after visiting the fire scene at New Super Market.

“Intelligence surveillance will be strengthened, and at the same time, intelligence personnel in plainclothes will be stationed in front of the markets,” he added. Earlier, the fire broke out around 5:40 am. The first firefighting unit reached the spot around 5:43 am.