Home ›› 07 Apr 2023 ›› Front
Salman F Rahman, the prime minister’s private industry and investment adviser, has said that arrangements will be made so that the businessmen of Bangabazar Complex, which burnt down on Tuesday, can continue their businesses temporarily ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
He made the announcement after the affected traders requested him, during his visit to the scene on Thursday, to take steps to help them in this regard.
Salman said the businessmen informed him and the Dhaka South City Corporation mayor about their wish to sit there and do some business. “We agree with them.”
“But there are legal issues to tackle after such a horrific accident. I will speak to the director general (DG) of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) so that this place can be cleared as soon as possible maintaining all legal matters. It will help the traders to sit for now and recover some losses,” he said.
He said, “I will talk to the mayor and the FSCD DG so that traders can sit and restart their businesses temporarily.”
Salman said, “After another fire at Bangabazar market earlier, the government had planned to construct a new building here. But a group of traders were against it and filed a case. If that case is withdrawn, initiatives will be taken to rebuild the market by constructing a new building in line with the previous plan.”
“I have spoken to the prime minister. She said that she would provide assistance from her fund. Many people from across the country want to help too. For this, the shop owners association has been asked to open a joint account,” he added.
He also urged the market committee to prepare a list of the affected traders and submit it to the city corporation by Sunday to get financial assistance.
Meanwhile, police have filed a case with Bangshal police accusing around 300 people of attacking law enforcers and Fire Service officials and obstructing them from doing their duty during Tuesday’s fire. FSCD is also set to file a separate case over obstruction of duty, attack and vandalising of its headquarters.
Most Dhaka markets at risk
Meanwhile, FSCD officials have said that most of the markets including Gausia in Dhaka are more or less at risk of facing a similar incident like Bangabazar as they have not fully implemented the FSCD directives to ensure fire safety.
FSCD officials visited the Gausia Market, adjacent to New Market, on Thursday. Members of the National Intelligence Agency and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence were also present at the time.
Talking to reporters after the visit, FSCD Assistant Deputy Director (Dhaka Region Chief) Bajlur Rashid said that apart from the Gausia, the capital’s markets that are at risk include Rajdhani Super Market, Thatari Bazar Kitchen Market, New Market and Chawkbazar.
Regarding Gausia, he said that this market has six stairs but none of them is spacious enough as there are small shops on them. If an accident happens, many people will not be able to use these stairs at once to flee.
Also, electrical wires are everywhere. There was talk of installing an automatic fire alarm system in the market but that is yet to be implemented, he said.
In 2020, the market underwent an exercise. Afterwards, several recommendations were made and some of which have been implemented, said Bajlur. But there is no fire hydrant or water source, no smoke detector and the market does not have its fire fighting team.
He said, “There are some fire extinguishers. However, if there is an accident, Fire Service will come and try to put the fire out but there is not enough water here for that. Even if there are reserved water, it is not sufficient.”
However, Gausia Market Shop Owners Association President Kamrul Hasan Babu claimed they have implemented the Fire Service instructions given two years ago. “We have the certificate. All buildings have some defects. We will try to solve those that we have here in a day or two.”
Regarding the shops on the stairs, he said their association was not responsible for them. “But since Fire Service has asked to move these shops, the committee will sit and make a decision soon.”
