Raging inferno at Bangabazar market

Traders, whose businesses have been crippled by the pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia war and the ongoing inflation, had their eyes on Eid to recover from the losses. They had banked on Eid sales to recoup from seasons of losses due to various reasons and invested big in hopes of healthy returns.

Regrettably, a devastating fire broke out at Bangabazar market in Dhaka around 6:10am yesterday where all the stores in the tin-shed market have been burnt to ashes. The situation here was as tragic as fire has completely ravaged the shops. Forty-eight firefighting units, locals and a team of army personnel also joined the efforts to douse the devastating fire. At least 11 people including 6 personnel of the Fire Service and Civil Defence were injured in the fire, according to the latest reports.

There were around 2,500 shops in the market, one of the most popular clothing markets in the capital for retailers and wholesalers. The shop owners had invested heavily to profit from the biggest shopping festival ahead of Eid ul Fitr.

The blazing fire at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex may have burnt more than Tk 1,000 crore worth of investment into ashes, according to Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, the apex body of shop owners.

Fire accidents in Bangladesh have become a recurring nightmare, and it seems that the country is unable to learn from its past mistakes. Despite numerous incidents, including the Tazreen Fashion factory fire in 2012 and the Nimtali fire in 2010, which claimed the lives of hundreds of people, fire safety measures in the country remain inadequate.

The latest fire incident at Banabazar however is a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger fire safety measures in Bangladesh. This tragedy has once again highlighted the inadequacy of fire safety measures in the city, which puts the lives of citizens at risk.

The root cause of most fire incidents in Dhaka is the lack of compliance with fire safety regulations. Many buildings, shopping centres and establishments do not have adequate fire safety equipment or a proper evacuation plan in place. Furthermore, there is often a lack of awareness about fire safety among the general public, which can lead to panic and confusion in the event of a fire.

The government has enacted fire safety regulations, but there is a lack of effective implementation and enforcement of these regulations.

Individuals who contribute to the causes of the fire should also be held accountable. In many cases, fires are caused by electrical faults, gas cylinder explosions, or human error. Individuals responsible for such actions should be held accountable and brought to justice. Furthermore, those responsible for not taking timely action to control the fire and provide assistance to the affected people must also be held accountable.

After compliance issues were brought to the fore by the international communities, the number of fire incidents in garment factories has become rare. The authorities concerned should follow the RMG sectors’ example regarding fires in the markets, which have become too frequent for comfort.

Fire accidents in Bangladesh continue to claim lives and cause significant property damage. The failure to learn from previous incidents is a grave concern that must be addressed urgently. Accountability, awareness, education, and involvement of civil society organizations are essential components in improving fire safety measures. The government must take immediate and proactive measures to enforce fire safety regulations and ensure compliance by all buildings. It is high time that Bangladesh learns from its past mistakes and prioritizes the safety of its citizens.