Home ›› 17 Apr 2023 ›› Front
The matter of fire risk in various markets and shopping malls across the country has come to the fore after the recent blaze at the Bangabazar market in the capital.
The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence took the matter seriously and conducted surveys at the Gausia market and Rajdhani Super Market on April 8 and 9. After the surveys, they said both markets are at risk of catching fire.
Apart from the two, most of the other markets in Dhaka are more or less at risk of fire as well, said the fire service. Its officials fear there will be massive damage and loss of lives if a fire breaks out in a market.
Stakeholders said no effective measures were taken even though there had been discussions on different occasions about fire risks in markets.
They said everyone starts to worry when a fire incident happens but the concern disappears after a few days.
Besides raising public awareness, strict action should be taken if fire safety rules are not followed properly, they added.
The fire service annual reports show fire incidents in markets and shopping malls increased in the last three years across the country. There were 428 incidents in 2020, which increased to 458 in 2021 and 589 in 2022.
Although the fire service could not provide figures for all categories, only market and shopping mall fires led to losses of Tk 10,10,77,677 in 2020, Tk 9,64,12,400 in 2021, and Tk 16,97,12,555 in 2022.
Meanwhile, compared to 2020, there were more incidents of fire in various structures across the country in 2021 and 2022. There were 21,073 incidents in 2020, which increased to 21,601 in 2021 and 24,102 in 2022.
Bazlur Rashid, assistant deputy director (Dhaka region chief) of the fire service, said many markets, including Thatari Bazar kitchen market, New Market, and Chawkbazar, are at risk of catching fire.
This is because they do not fully comply with the fire safety requirements, he said.
He also said both the Gausia market and Rajdhani Super Market have fire extinguishers but the electric cables are in disarray.
“Besides, there are clothes hanging in the passages used for movement inside the markets, creating obstacles. It increases the risk of damage from fire.”
But Gausia Market Shop Owners Association President Kamrul Hasan Babu said, “We fulfilled the requirements given by the fire service two years ago. We have a fire certificate. Besides, all buildings have some defects, but we will try to fix those in ours in a day or two.”
The Business Post talked to some shoppers in the two markets and they said they were suffocating as the passages are very narrow and shopkeepers also keep their goods on those.
If a fire breaks out, there is no way to get out, they said.
When asked why they came to the markets for shopping despite the poor condition, they replied that the middle class and lower middle class can buy from there at reasonable prices.
They said it is not possible for them to go to the big markets or shopping malls considering affordability.
Besides, they said it is not enough to just talk about fire risk and the authorities concerned should be strict in this regard and take legal action to improve the situation.
Shahjahan Shikder, deputy assistant director (media cell) of the fire service headquarters, told The Business Post buildings can be prone to fire due to various reasons.
“For example, they were not constructed properly, there is not enough space for movement, electricity cables are disorganised, goods are kept on passages and stairwells, and there are no water reserves. All these were true for Bangabazar.”
He said there are four stages of a fire incident – incipient, growth, developed, and decay – and the fire service should be notified during the first two.
“In that case, the fire service can control the fire and losses will be less. When a fire enters the third stage, there will be more damage,” he also said.
Shahjahan said all shopping malls, including modern markets, should be built according to the rules and have all kinds of firefighting equipment. “Besides, trained firefighters should be appointed. Then the risk can be minimised.”
Architect Md Iqbal Habib, an urbanist and environmental activist, told The Business Post fire incidents are increasing every year because legal action is not taken and people are getting away with whatever they are doing.
He said Dhaka is managed by 54 agencies under 11 ministries and all stakeholders, especially the fire service and RAJUK as well as gas, electricity and water service companies, should start a programme of habitability and usability under the leadership of city corporations.
“This is because every citizen has the right to know that the building where he lives is certified as safe by the government. The overall situation will improve if all laws are enforced,” said Iqbal.
“For example, after the Rana Plaza disaster, we improved workplace safety and other conditions in garment factories, which helped us become the country with the highest number of green buildings in the world.
“This happened because foreign buyers put pressure on apparel makers to improve factory safety. Similarly, if our citizens pressure the authorities to ensure sustainability, security, and quality of life, things will improve,” he added.
