A REPORT published in an English daily on Tuesday said, people’s life at most city markets and shopping malls are at utter risk due to lack of adequate fire safety measure. In June, two city markets caught fire and it came out that they lacked adequate firefighting equipment and had poor maintenance of electro-mechanical system. Before the fire incidents in the so-called modern and sophisticated markets people had believed that they have modern fire extinguishing equipment. But at least seven people died at an Uttara shopping mall lift crush and fire on the eyes of people on 24 June, while another fire incident on June 29 left almost all the shops in a high-rise market cum-residential building at Uttar Badda badly damaged with cracks on the walls. Had there been adequate fire fighting equipment these accidents could do less harm.
According to the Fire Protection Act 2003, every floor of all high-rise buildings should have at least two fire extinguishers, hydrant point, water reservoir and a tank on the top always contain a certain amount of water. Besides having equipment, the markets should have their own firefighting team and conduct drill on a regular basis. But it is done seldom. Dhaka city has many old and popular markets; which are congested and have almost no firefighting equipment. As per reliable figure compiled by Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity the number of shopping malls and markets in Dhaka would be not less than five hundred. Most of these markets lack fire safety measures due to reluctance of the market authorities and lack of proper monitoring by the government. Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense of Dhaka Division, Md Mozammel Hoque believed that if a fire would break out at markets like Mouchak and Gowsia, it would be devastating, causing many deaths and loss of property as they lacked exit or adequate space for firefighting.
Dhaka city is in the process of expansion. Number of residents are also increasing day by day. So, the presence of consumers in markets and shopping malls are also increasing and will continue to increase in future. Safety of ever increasing consumers should be protected by all means. Fire is the main cause of devastation in public places like markets and shopping malls. So, cautiousness is a must as fire cannot erupt. At the same time firefighting ability must be increased. If the market authorities strictly follow the Fire Protection Act, 2003 the danger from fire related accident would reduce remarkably. It is the responsibility of concerned department of the government to monitor carefully whether the Act is followed strictly and any lapse must be punished in greater public interest.
