Basundhara City, the country’s largest shopping mall, turned into a towering inferno in the heart of the capital with fire engulfing the corporate offices on the upper floors. The owners of Basundhara City, opened to the public in August 2004, claim it is the largest shopping mall in South Asia and the 12th largest in the world. The blaze that started around 1.30pm had died down toward evening after firemen spent over 5 hours fighting flames that spread downwards from the top floors of the 21-storied building, trapping many inside. At least another seventeen injured were taken to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital. Dhaka, Bangladesh. March 13 2009