The leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) suspect the fires at the two factories, both of which are fully compliant with safety rules, an act of "sabotage" and demanded probe into the matter.

With this latest incident, properties worth over Tk 70 crore were damaged in six fires at different garment and other industrial units in the port city since March 8.

Meanwhile, at least 40 workers were injured in a stampede caused by a false fire alarm inside another garment factory building at Mistripara in the city yesterday morning.

Yesterday's fire broke out at the one-storey storehouse of the Base Textile Ltd at Kalurghat at around 1:00pm, fire service sources said. The fire spread fast and reduced to ashes chemicals, fabrics, raw materials and finished goods.

The fire might have originated from an electric short-circuit, the fire service sources added.

Thirteen fire-fighting units from different fire stations of the city rushed to the spot and managed to extinguish the blaze after a five-hour frantic effort.

The fire triggered panic among some 5,000 workers, who were working in the adjoining factory of Base Textile Ltd at the time. However, no casualty was reported.

Meanwhile, BGMEA leaders visiting the spot yesterday expressed suspicion over the repeated incidents of fire at different garments and textile units in the last few days.

While talking to The Daily Star BGMEA First Vice-President SM Abu Tayyab demanded an inquiry to find out if anybody or group is involved in the fires as part of any conspiracy against the garments sector, the highest revenue earner of the country.

Both the factories of Base Textile and Creaslan Sweater strictly followed the safety standards and compliance issues, he added.

The fire at the factory of Creaslan Sweater Ltd at Dewanhat on Tuesday night damaged properties worth around Tk 1 crore and left some 15 people injured.

40 HURT IN STAMPEDE
At least 40 workers, mostly women, were injured in a stampede caused by a false fire alarm inside the factory building at city's Mistripara yesterday morning.

The railing of the first floor stairs collapsed due to over pressure when the panicked workers from three floors rushed to get out of the building.

"One of the workers switched on an exhaust fan that created a big bang and triggered panic among the workers," Saiful Islam, production manager of the Tishun Fashion Ltd told The Daily Star.

Around 1,000 workers of Tishun Fashion Ltd and Eden Fashion Ltd were working in the three floors of the building when the incident occurred at about 9:45am, officials said.

"We trained them (workers) how to escape safely in case of any accident, but the problem was that workers from all floors tried to escape all at a time today," said Chinmoy Pal, commercial executive of Eden Fashion Ltd.

The injured were rushed to Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association Health Centre and Chittagong Medical Collage Hospital.