The government and private sectors will have to work jointly to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) and build joint-venture fire safety and security industries in the country to reduce import dependency, increase local production, and boost exports.
Salman F Rahman, private industry and investment adviser to the prime minister, made the remarks on Saturday while speaking as the chief guest in the inaugural ceremony of the 9th International Fire Safety and Security Expo.
Addressing the event held in the capital’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Saturday, he said, “The fire safety and security market has expanded rapidly as awareness and consciousness among people in building infrastructure increased after a few incidents.”
The Electronics Safety and Security Association of Bangladesh (ESSAB) organised this three-day long expo scheduled from February 17 to February 19.
Addressing the importance of structural planning to reduce fire incidents, Salman F Rahman said, “Bangladesh’s RMG industry is now the safest in the world. We should ensure preventive measures by strengthening regulatory affairs, so that such incidents do not happen in our buildings, infrastructure, and industries.”
In his address, ESSAB President Md Niaz Ali Chishty emphasised the need for policy support to increase production and boost exports, as well as expansion of the sector.
He added, “Fire safety and security has become a major challenge in the expansion of the country’s economy.
“Integrated policy support to ensure fire safety and security in factories will play a pivotal role in attracting local and foreign investments, sustainable development, and overcoming LDC graduation challenges.”
Addressing the ESSAB's recommendation to uplift research-based products and exhibitions for the young generation, Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brig Gen Md Main Uddin said, “Collaborative support from FBCCI, BGMEA, and other stakeholders is essential for installing labs to conduct research for cost-efficient products.”
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) President Mahbubul Alam said, “Buildings, infrastructure, industries, and factories should be brought under fire safety and security.”
The FBCCI president requested not to bring low-quality and fabricated products that will destroy our industry as well as infrastructure.
Integrated data-driven system, PPP to make smart city
Experts called on an integrated data-driven system and public-private partnership (PPP) to make smart safety and security solutions in Bangladesh to combat fire incidents and ensure easier evacuation in a comprehensive technical seminar titled “Smart Safety and Security Solution in Bangladesh.”
The seminar was attended by six-panel discussants – Lt Col Mohammad Tazul Islam Chowdhury, director (Operation and Maintenance) of FSCD; Architect Iqbal Habib, principal architect of VITTI Architects Ltd; Md Shahid-Ul-Munir, former president of Bangladesh Computer Samity; Al Amin Mridha, secretary general of BCCCI; Mohammad Faisal Mahmud, Vice President of ESSAB; Md Mahmood-E-Khoda, JSG of ESSAB.
Emphasising high-end fire safety equipment, in his welcome note of the seminar, ESSAB President Md Niaz Ali Chishty said, “There is no alternative of smart security and solutions to build smart Bangladesh.
“We should have to be smart enough in establishing smart infrastructure. Equipment should be standard. If equipment is not standard enough, no one can be secured.”
