Sagar Biswas :
Seven years have almost passed after the Nimtali inferno, but the proposed ‘Chemical Palli’ in Keraniganj on the outskirts of capital is yet to see light of the day due to dilly-dally attitude of Ministry of Industries.
And for the reason, the relocation of the chemical factories and godowns from inside the old city is being delayed. If anyone goes to Nimtoli, Moghultuli and other parts of old Dhaka, he will see unplanned storage of inflammable chemical and its use in different small factories.
Most of the fire incidents occurred in old Dhaka in fact originated from such chemical godowns or factories in the recent years, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence.
When contacted, Additional Secretary of Industries Ministry Sushen Chandra Das told The New Nation last night that the proposed ‘Chemical Palli’ is still under process. “I can’t tell the exact condition of the project. But so far as I know, it will take time for implementation.”
Sources said the government had selected 20 acres of land in Keraniganj to shift chemical factories, but the land development work is yet to be started for the reasons best known to the officials concerned
Meanwhile, thinner [paint], tarpin oil, acid and calcium carbide-these all are dangerous inflammable liquid – are still stored and sold by a section of businessmen in the old Dhaka violating rules and regulation posing serious threat to human lives.
There are specific procedures how the inflammable chemicals to be stored, used and transported in the populated area. Particularly, the map around 100 meters of the chemical godown marking the permanent establishments should be placed to Department of Explosives.
At the same time, there must be an empty space [22 feet each side] around the godown. But nobody cares the law so essential for public safety.
Against this backdrop, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokan yesterday said: “The chemical godowns will be shifted from old Dhaka by the first day of next March.”
“The incidents of fire were likely to be reduced, if effective steps had been taken after conducting proper investigation into all fires. The city dwellers doubt after each fire, whether
it’s an accident or an act of sabotage…..I don’t know whether any investigation report was made public till the date,” the DSCC Mayor said blaming the unplanned chemical godowns for one the major reasons for igniting fire.
Sources close to the city corporation said that nine types of chemicals are mainly imported in the country. Of them three have specific rules-regulations to carry, use, sale and storage.
But significantly, other six types of chemicals are used carelessly without taking any safety measure. The City Corporations, however, now has stopped issuing license in the city for chemical business.
Admitting the fact, Chief Inspector of Department of Explosives Md Shamsul Alam told The New Nation on Thursday night: “There may be some illegal warehouses where inflammable chemicals are stored. Besides, there may be some factories those use the risky chemicals. And it may cause big accident at any time.”
“Presently, the DoE also doesn’t issue license for the inflame chemicals in Dhaka city. Besides, there are some other inflammable substances those are outside of the purview of DoE. Our department oversee different petroleum chemicals and explosive substances. But the Deputy Commissioners, Executive Magistrates and local police stations have authority to monitor the explosive chemicals,” the Chief Inspector said.
In one of the most heartbreaking incident, a total of 123 people were burnt alive and 400 received injuries in a devastating fire that had originated from a chemical godown at Nimtoli on June 3, 2010.
The incident took place at a ‘panchini programme’ of some Runa, who had lost most of her family members in the fire. Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took responsibility of Runa along with two other girls and arranged marriage ceremony for them at Gano Bhaban.
Seven years have almost passed after the Nimtali inferno, but the proposed ‘Chemical Palli’ in Keraniganj on the outskirts of capital is yet to see light of the day due to dilly-dally attitude of Ministry of Industries.
And for the reason, the relocation of the chemical factories and godowns from inside the old city is being delayed. If anyone goes to Nimtoli, Moghultuli and other parts of old Dhaka, he will see unplanned storage of inflammable chemical and its use in different small factories.
Most of the fire incidents occurred in old Dhaka in fact originated from such chemical godowns or factories in the recent years, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence.
When contacted, Additional Secretary of Industries Ministry Sushen Chandra Das told The New Nation last night that the proposed ‘Chemical Palli’ is still under process. “I can’t tell the exact condition of the project. But so far as I know, it will take time for implementation.”
Sources said the government had selected 20 acres of land in Keraniganj to shift chemical factories, but the land development work is yet to be started for the reasons best known to the officials concerned
Meanwhile, thinner [paint], tarpin oil, acid and calcium carbide-these all are dangerous inflammable liquid – are still stored and sold by a section of businessmen in the old Dhaka violating rules and regulation posing serious threat to human lives.
There are specific procedures how the inflammable chemicals to be stored, used and transported in the populated area. Particularly, the map around 100 meters of the chemical godown marking the permanent establishments should be placed to Department of Explosives.
At the same time, there must be an empty space [22 feet each side] around the godown. But nobody cares the law so essential for public safety.
Against this backdrop, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokan yesterday said: “The chemical godowns will be shifted from old Dhaka by the first day of next March.”
“The incidents of fire were likely to be reduced, if effective steps had been taken after conducting proper investigation into all fires. The city dwellers doubt after each fire, whether
it’s an accident or an act of sabotage…..I don’t know whether any investigation report was made public till the date,” the DSCC Mayor said blaming the unplanned chemical godowns for one the major reasons for igniting fire.
Sources close to the city corporation said that nine types of chemicals are mainly imported in the country. Of them three have specific rules-regulations to carry, use, sale and storage.
But significantly, other six types of chemicals are used carelessly without taking any safety measure. The City Corporations, however, now has stopped issuing license in the city for chemical business.
Admitting the fact, Chief Inspector of Department of Explosives Md Shamsul Alam told The New Nation on Thursday night: “There may be some illegal warehouses where inflammable chemicals are stored. Besides, there may be some factories those use the risky chemicals. And it may cause big accident at any time.”
“Presently, the DoE also doesn’t issue license for the inflame chemicals in Dhaka city. Besides, there are some other inflammable substances those are outside of the purview of DoE. Our department oversee different petroleum chemicals and explosive substances. But the Deputy Commissioners, Executive Magistrates and local police stations have authority to monitor the explosive chemicals,” the Chief Inspector said.
In one of the most heartbreaking incident, a total of 123 people were burnt alive and 400 received injuries in a devastating fire that had originated from a chemical godown at Nimtoli on June 3, 2010.
The incident took place at a ‘panchini programme’ of some Runa, who had lost most of her family members in the fire. Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took responsibility of Runa along with two other girls and arranged marriage ceremony for them at Gano Bhaban.
