Before it all burns away

Last Updated on August 22, 2023 9:45 am

Bangladesh loses thousands of lives to fire on an annual basis. This needs to stop.

It is unfortunate that, when it comes to fire safety, as a nation we are still playing it fast and loose.

Recently, a fire broke out on the outskirts on the capital that claimed five lives, including that of two children. One of the most concerning facts in this particular case was that the fatalities happened in a residential area, and it happened due to a nearby chemical warehouse that was constructed illegally.

The administration had long promised that all kinds of factories and chemical/industrial warehouses would be relocated away from residential areas. Clearly we are a long way from these promises from being fulfilled.

Our track record with fire is worsening day by day. While there are a number of prescribed safety measures in place to prevent fires from engulfing industrial complexes, such as factories and warehouses, but they are barely, if ever, implemented. Furthermore, due to past incidents, the authorities passed a blanket ban on the construction of industrial structures in residential areas.

Investigators need to look into who owned the warehouse in this incident. A thorough investigation needs to be conducted to identify the culprit and his benefactors so that a proper example can be made of these people.

Mobilizing a dedicated task force and sweep through the residential areas of the country is one idea that can perhaps be implemented to weed out such establishments — any hint of industrial activity needs to be sniffed out, and adequate punishment needs to be delivered. The authorities also need to construct industrial zones for small warehouses and factories so that owners can be enticed to move out of residential areas.