A fire broke out at a substation of a 350 MW power plant operated by the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj.

The incident occurred around 5:30 PM on Friday (May 1), when a 300 MVA 230/132 kV transformer at the Siddhirganj grid substation suddenly caught fire. Witnesses said the flames spread rapidly, producing thick black smoke that covered the surrounding area. The situation caused panic among local residents, prompting many to leave their homes and gather outside.

Upon receiving the report, two units from the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence’s Adamjee station rushed to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control. Senior Station Officer Miron Mia from the Adamjee Fire Service confirmed the development in the evening.

Initial assessments suggest the fire may have been triggered by a mechanical fault or overheating in the transformer. The unit reportedly contained around 100,000 liters of oil, which posed a high risk of the fire spreading further. However, due to the quick response by firefighters, a transformer valued at approximately 3 billion taka was largely saved from severe damage.

Following the incident, security has been strengthened in the power plant and grid substation areas. An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.