Cox's Bazar Resort Fire Kills at Least 10 in BangladeshWorld

Fire service spokesman Talha Bin Zasim confirmed the death toll of 10 at around 1:30pm, adding that the injured had been admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. Resident medical officer Sabuktagin Mahmud Sohel said five of the injured had burns covering about 5 per cent of their bodies, while another person injured in a fall was discharged after receiving first aid.

Nearly 30 people were reportedly staying at the resort when the fire started. Four to five people managed to escape, the Dhaka Tribune reported, while the whereabouts and condition of some of the others remained unknown as rescue operations continued. Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner A Mannan said DNA samples would be collected from the recovered bodies before they were handed over to families.

<h2>Resort had no fire licence</h2> Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) Director General Brigadier General Sultanul Afreen Zunaid said the resort had been inspected in June and warned about fire risks, with a notice issued — but it continued to operate without a valid fire safety licence.

&#8220;The establishment had not been operating in accordance with the rules,&#8221; he said at a press briefing at the Fire Service headquarters, adding that a thorough investigation was needed to determine the cause of the fire.

Police detained the resort manager, Mohammad Suman, following the fire. Ukhiya police confirmed the detention in the afternoon. Representatives of the resort authorities reportedly fled after the incident, according to local reports.

Among the dead were six members of one family. Ashiqul Islam, who had travelled to Cox&#8217;s Bazar on holiday with his family, survived after jumping from the second floor of the burning building, Prothom Alo reported. His wife and her younger sister were among those killed.

<h2>Rescue hampered by distance</h2> Three units began working at the scene at around 8am, brought the fire under control by about 10am, and fully extinguished it around 11am, according to the fire service.

The cause of the fire has not been established. Some people suspected it may have started in the resort&#8217;s kitchen, the deputy commissioner said, but officials stressed that the cause could not be confirmed until the investigation was complete. A five-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the cause and circumstances of the blaze, authorities said.

The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of fire safety at tourist accommodation in the district. Two other major resort fires have been reported in Cox&#8217;s Bazar district in recent years: one on Saint Martin&#8217;s Island in January 2025 that damaged three resorts, and another in May 2026 that damaged the Pacific Beach Lounge Eco Resort between Sugandha and Kolatoli points, causing estimated losses of Tk60-70 lakh. No casualties were reported in those incidents.