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Industry leaders and experts at a seminar on Monday urged the government to amend the existing Bangladesh National Building Code, update it timely and set standards for high-rise buildings to ensure fire safety and security.
However, Housing and Public Works Minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury has given an assurance that policy support will be provided to empower the country’s fire safety and security entrepreneurs and businesses to boost local production and rectify the BNCC document if the proposals are timely, cost-efficient and realistic.
The recommendations came at a seminar organised by the Electronics Safety and Security Association of Bangladesh (ESSAB) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
Superintending Engineer of Public Works Department Shekhar Chandra Biswas focused on the definition of high-rise buildings to ensure fire detection and protection.
Currently, he said, there are many high-rise buildings which are 10-15 storeys but in the initial drawing, there is reluctance regarding the issue of fire safety.
“In cases of new buildings, we suggest updating their designs and ensuring fire elevators, fire stairs, protection walls, and fire exits so that everyone can evacuate during any incident,” he added.
Former Director General of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence Ali Ahmed Khan said that the government should have a strong will for ensuring public safety with the alignment of development. Regulatory support should be provided to government agencies to provide smooth services and world best practices should be brought in the country.
He said, “We have to revise the national code. In the developed world, revision is done every year. If there is any disparity between high-rise and low-rise buildings, it has to be reduced or the law cannot be implemented. Besides, the capacity of the regulatory body should be increased and brought them under accountability.”
Attending the seminar as the chief guest, BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatem said there is no doubt that BNBC-2020 is faulty. However, it should not be possible to say by the regulatory bodies to maintain foreign standards instead of amending and updating national code. It makes traders suffer. It must be closed. There is still conflict over high-rise buildings. It needs to be defined and set standards.
“If our best standard is set, Accord, Alliance and other foreign agencies could not pressurise our businessmen. He requested the government to stop this torture as it is not possible to accept unreasonable and unrealistic rules and provisions.”
Fire losses doubled in a year
Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brig Gen Md Main Uddin in his keynote speech shared insights of previous incidents and underscored the significance of fire safety in industries and factories.
He pointed out that FSCD receives 22,300 fire incident calls per year but last year it was increased to 28,703 while on average, 149 people die per year, which was reduced to 102 last year.
Fire caused an average loss equivalent to Tk 368 crore per year, which was around Tk 793 crore last year. About 36 per cent fire caused by electricity last year, he added.
Main includes and focuses shifts to prevention through awareness, regular checks of fire safety equipment and using quality materials. Challenges, such as the absence of a fire code, are acknowledged, but adherence to building standards and laws is deemed crucial.
Minister Muktadir said, “Now many mechanical systems are developed as fire safety and security are essential to protect our assets. It is not desirable that the building will be built with people's hard money and it will be destroyed by fire. If we can produce this equipment in Bangladesh using mechanical techniques, expertise, we will get quality equipment at a reasonable price.”
While moderating the discussion, ESSAB Secretary General Zakir Uddin Ahmed placed a fire safety and security industries' comprehensive demand for amending the national building code.
ESSAB President Md Niaz Ali Chishty highlighted the significance of prioritizing fire safety amidst Bangladesh's economic growth. He underscored the escalating risk associated with high-rise buildings and emphasized the imperative of incorporating cutting-edge technology across infrastructure, industries, and architectural endeavours. By embracing modern advancements, he stressed, the nation can safeguard its citizens and secure a safer future for Bangladesh.
