Govt fails to modernise fire extinguishing system: Fakhrul

Despite the alarming rise in the number of fire incidents in the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government has failed to modernise the fire extinguishing system and adequately equip the firefighters.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also blamed the government and its agencies for the massive fire at Bangabazar Market that despoiled several thousand small traders, reports UNB.

“The government used to talk about massive development in the country. But the modern systems required for extinguishing fire are not here. The firefighters don't have the necessary equipment to immediately control a fire when it breaks out,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said the government did not give importance to improving the services of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence as it is least bothered about public safety.

“Their importance is where they can have more commissions and where they will earn more money. That’s how they set their priority. We think the entire government is responsible for this (Bangabazar Market) fire and they should resign shouldering the responsibility,” he said.

A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday morning and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning several thousand shops, mainly readymade garment and footwear stores, to ashes.

Referring to newspaper reports, Fakhrul said the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence declared the Bangabazar Shopping Complex at a fire risk a few years ago, Fakhrul said the government or any other agencies did not take step to demolish the market.

“Leaving this wooden structure in grave danger, the government and all its agencies concerned, including the city corporation, have not played their responsibility to vacate the market,” he said.

The BNP leader said their party thinks the traders of Bangabazar Market met such dire consequences only because of the indifference, incompetence, corruption and lack of vigilance of the departments concerned of the government.

Though fortunately no one died in the market fire, he said the small traders have been hit hard and many of them become paupers losing their all investment ahead of the eid.

Fakhrul said their party standing committee members at their virtual meeting on Wednesday expressed sorrow over the huge loses of the traders in fire at Bangabazar Market.

He said the BNP policymakers demanded the government to ensure proper fire extinguishing system and security measures in all markets and provide the Bangabazar Market victims with adequate compensation.