Staff Reporter :
Speakers at a open discussion in the Nagorbhaban of Dhaka South City Corporation on Wednesday emphasized to relocate chemical warehouses from old Dhaka.
“All chemical warehouses were supposed to relocate from old Dhaka after the Neemtali tragedy nine years ago. But it was not done. Now it should be relocated,” said Salman F Rahman, Prime Minister’s Advisor for Private Industries and Investment.
Salman F Rahman was the Chief Guest in the prgramme while DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon presided over it.
Salman F Rahman said it during his participation in the discussion meeting titled, ‘Risky business in old Dhaka, crisis and potentialities. What to be done and what to be avoided’.
Salman F Rahman said, “The Prime Minister had directed to relocate inflammable chemicals from the old Dhaka. So, no one has any say in this regard.”
The Advisor, however, suggested suitable area to shift the chemical warehouses.
He said also, “The chemical businesses have huge contribution to our national economy. These types of the businesses have been changed in last nine years. It had to think about the changing trend of our business. And we have to relocate all of our chemical warehouses from the old Dhaka.
He said there are 29 inflammable chemicals identified. It might be increased, but no more than 32.
DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon said, “I have seen the incident. The city authority is not ready to keep the liabilities of the bizarre.”
He asked the teams of the taskforce not to harass businessmen without any logic.
“No businessmen would be harassed by the team during the drives against inflammable chemicals,” said the DSCC Mayor.
The mayor also said that the eviction drives will continue to ensure safety of all.
“There are some more inflammable chemicals beyond identified 29. All of those needed to relocate,” the mayor said.
The Mayor said, “It should be examined whether the plastic raw materials are inflammable or not. The Department of Explosives has been directed to give report in this regards within 24 hours. The matters will be solved then.”
“If the report says that the plastic raw materials are not inflammable, yet the drives will continue against storing of 29 chemicals,” mayor said.
RAJUK Chairman Abdur Rahman and DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, among others were present.
Taskforce’s drives in old Dhaka: Two teams of the taskforce on Wednesday conducted drives against storing inflammable chemicals from the old Dhaka.
The teams conducted drives in Kosaituli, Kazimuddin Siddique Lane and RND Road areas as its sixth days of drives.
The teams have given three days time to four warehouses to relocate chemicals.
The officials of teams warned stern action if the owners failed to relocate all of those chemicals during the time.
