Dhaka, Oct. 13 -- Firefighters have yet to fully extinguish the fire at Munsur Khan Plaza in Dhaka's Chawkbazar, 17 hours after it broke out. Smouldering goods in sixth-floor warehouses are keeping crews at the scene.

Kazi Nazmuzzaman, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, told journalists on site after 11am on Tuesday that heat, narrow lanes, water shortages, warehouse stock and the need to cut shutter locks had made the job harder.

"There is no fire inside, but light smoke is still rising from under the goods," he said. "If we stop the water, the heat could revive the fire."

The fire broke out around 5pm on Monday. Ten units brought it under control at 5:20am on Tuesday, but eight more hours passed wit...