A case involving 23 individuals has been filed under bailable sections over the tragic fire at the wooden Tupan Tupan Resort on Patuartek beach in Ukhia, Cox's Bazar, which claimed the lives of 10 tourists. Consequently, the judge has summoned Ukhia Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC), Atiqur Rahman, to appear before the court.
The court described the failure to include non-bailable sections and recording the case under bailable provisions as a serious offense. The fire broke out on the morning of October 17, leading to the recovery of 10 charred bodies from the resort. Nine days after the incident, three accused individuals, including resort owner Md. Tanvir Sultan Miah, remain at large, though police have arrested the resort's assistant manager, Zahid Hossain.
On Monday, Cox's Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate Asad Uddin Md. Asif issued an order directing OC Atiqur Rahman to appear in person before the court on October 29 and submit a written explanation. The order specifically asked him to clarify why legal action and departmental disciplinary measures should not be recommended against him under Section 218 of the Penal Code, 1860.
Shahajahan Elahi Nuri, the administrative officer of the Cox's Bazar Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, confirmed the court order to Chitra Post, stating that copies of the notice have been dispatched to OC Atiqur Rahman and other relevant departments.
When contacted for comments, OC Atiqur Rahman told Chitra Post that he had not received the court notice as of Monday evening. He stated that upon receiving it, he would appear in court on time to explain the situation. Expressing deep shock over the deaths of the 10 tourists in the resort fire, the OC explained that Section 304 of the Penal Code was inadvertently omitted from the primary case statement due to the chaos and preoccupation surrounding the fire emergency, though an application to incorporate the section was submitted to the court the following day.
