The fire that broke out at seven-storey building ‘Green Cozy Cottage Shopping Mall’ in Dhaka’s Bailey Road area on Thursday night killed 46 people and injured several others.
Fire Service said that the building lacked fire extinguishing system. There was only a narrow staircase. The building authorities did not take any steps for fire safety even after three notices were served on them.
Earlier, three people died in a fire at Khawaja Tower in Dhaka’s Mohakhali Amtali area on October 26 last year. The building had no safety plan at all.
It was alleged that major fires broke out at buildings or markets in different areas of Dhaka where there was no security system.
Experts believe that due to a lack of coordination among the authorities concerned and enforcement of laws, many people are apathetic about taking fire safety measures. Therefore, they called for forming a task force with all the parties involved in building construction and maintenance.
The devastating fire at Bangabazar market on April 4 last year shook the authorities awake. At that time, fire service raided various buildings and markets in Dhaka and identified 58 buildings and markets as dangerous and risky. According to fire service, at least 23,533 fire incidents took place across the country as of September 2023 and caused a loss of Tk 241.19 crore.
Though Fire Services and Civil Defence (FSCD) did not release the full-risk monitoring report in 2023, its 2022 data showed that fire service members inspected around 5,869 public and private buildings across the country. Out of them, 2,223 buildings were at risk. About 38 per cent of buildings were at risk of fire.
Pointing out that the authorities do not seem to take any effective action in the fire incident, the experts and people concerned say that they want to settle the responsibility through investigation and blaming each other in these incidents. The fire service wrote letters to the authorities concerned detailing what steps should be taken, but no one listened.
When a major fire occurs, the authorities concerned start taking measures against those responsible for. But with the passage of time, they have been lax in monitoring the risky buildings whether the security system has been fixed in that building.
Fire service officials said buildings are classified as "risky and high risky" based on the building's low reservoir capacity, number of occupants, width of entrances, presence of smoke and fire detection devices, floor size, ladders, elevators, etc.
According to FSCD report of 2022, 24,102 fire incidents occurred. Of these, 9,275 were due to electrical disturbances. On the other hand, out of 21,601 incidents in 2021, 7,955 fires were due to electrical disturbances. It was also seen that the number of fires in 2022 was about 2,501 more than in 2021. This also showed negligence in fire prevention.
FSCD’s Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told The Business Post that their job is to put out fires, identify problems and make people aware of fire risks. They always inform the owners and authorities concerned after identifying the buildings at risk. It is not their job to force them. There are other agencies to enforce the laws.
In response to a question regarding illegal factories, he said that it is not their job to move factories. However, after the fire in Nimtoli and Chawkbazar, they did not give permission for any shop or factory in those areas. The shops and factories are running there, they are doing it illegally.
Some officials of two city corporations, seeking anonymity, said that it is the primary responsibility of the building owners to ensure fire safety. However, if fire service sends the letter of dangerous or risky buildings, they fulfil the responsibility that we have.
But it can be seen that a deadly fire occurred in four markets in and around Bangabazar on April 4 last year. Most of the shops at Bangabazar were burnt to ashes. At that time, the director general of FSCD said that in 2019, at least 10 letters were sent to traders declaring Bangabazar building dangerous and notice was served. Even banners had been drawn in front of the market. But nothing worked.
On April 15 in 2023, the fire incident happened at New Super Market. The traders claimed that 226 shops, including goods worth around Tk 3.5 crore, were burnt. This market was also a fire hazard. They also wrote to the owner association of this market in this regard. No one took this into account and took any action.
After these incidents, the FSCD members visited 58 markets and shopping malls. Out of this, nine markets had been declared as highly risky, 14 as medium risky and 35 markets as risky.
The fire service officials said at that time, building-shop owners and business associations are not following the advice given to make these dangerous buildings safe. As a result, the markets are not safe. In these cases, they write to the market association or authority to take action. But those markets are still in the same condition.
Despite frequent efforts over phone, Mayor, CEO, Secretary of Dhaka North City Corporation and the chairman of RAJUK could not be reached for their comments in this regard. Other officials also declined to comment.
However, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh told the reporters while visiting the fire-ravaged building on Bailey Road that they have sent a policy to the government, making it mandatory to take permission from the city corporation for construction and reconstruction of buildings. He hopes that the policy will be approved.
Environmental activist and architect Iqbal Habib told The Business Post that the cities in all countries are being pushed towards danger for taking decision without thinking and responsibility in implementation. There is lack of coordination as the authorities fall under different ministries.
The indiscretion of those who are constructing the buildings, the greedy activities, the indifference and recklessness reasons of the authorities to enforce laws are main causes of present danger situation, he said.
Dr Adil Mohammed Khan, executive director of Institute for Planning and Development (IPD), told The Business Post that the building owners are already indifferent. Among them, organisations such as RAJUK, Fire Service, City Corporation, Power Division and WASA are seen limited to paper work only. They usually don't go to the field.
On the other hand, there is no monitoring system. Due to which it is seen that the building owners or the market authorities violate these rules, he said.
Experts said that under pressure from foreign buyers, the garments sector has reduced its risk by complying with its compliance. This is a good practice and example. They emphasize to implementation of laws and regulations for the safety and security of the people. Also, working together without blaming each other can reduce the risk of fire. Otherwise we remain at risk. They also told about the need to form taskforce for monitoring dangerous buildings.
