Japan’s Foreign Minister, Kamikawa Yoko, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire on Dhaka’s Bailey Road, which took the lives of 46 people. The blaze, breaking out in a shopping mall on a busy Thursday night, resulted in numerous injuries alongside the grievous loss of life.

In a moving statement, Minister Kamikawa shared her condolences with Bangladesh, “I am deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the large-scale fire at a shopping mall in Dhaka,” she said, addressing her Bangladeshi counterpart, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud. She added, “I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the people and the Government of Bangladesh.”

Her message also included prayers for the victims and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, among whom were two students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and a family of five, underscoring the profound personal losses suffered.

Following the tragedy, a legal case was filed at the Ramna Police Station, signaling the start of a search for accountability and answers. The incident has led to a period of national mourning in Bangladesh and has caught the attention of the international community, highlighting the widespread resonance of such calamities.