Staff Reporter :
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) finds that the government and its relevant offices are not following their own decisions and instructions in preventing recurrence of devastating fire incidences like the one at Churihatta in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar last year.
“Lack of political will to relocate chemical warehouses is evident. Corruption of concerned government agencies and undue political influence are effectively used for operating these,” according to a new report by the anti-corruption watchdog.
TIB revealed the findings based on the research titled “Nimtoli, Churihatta and Afterwards: Governance Challenges in Ensuring Fire Safety in Old Dhaka and Way Out”, during a press conference this morning.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said lack of good governance is acute which is responsible for the recurrence of fire tragedies like Nimtoli and Churihatta.
Even after the Churihatta fire, issuing and renewing licences of chemical business still continue in many cases, read the report.
Political influences, corrupt officials and illegal money are behind such activities.
Undue political influence is also being used to import acid as issuing licence for it is particularly hard.
“Some political leaders have such licences issued in their names despite not
being involved with chemical businesses. They sell licences after acquiring those to businessmen,” added the report.
The inflammable substances are transported publicly, it said adding that “the law enforcers clear the vehicles carrying such elements in exchange of money.”
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) finds that the government and its relevant offices are not following their own decisions and instructions in preventing recurrence of devastating fire incidences like the one at Churihatta in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar last year.
“Lack of political will to relocate chemical warehouses is evident. Corruption of concerned government agencies and undue political influence are effectively used for operating these,” according to a new report by the anti-corruption watchdog.
TIB revealed the findings based on the research titled “Nimtoli, Churihatta and Afterwards: Governance Challenges in Ensuring Fire Safety in Old Dhaka and Way Out”, during a press conference this morning.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said lack of good governance is acute which is responsible for the recurrence of fire tragedies like Nimtoli and Churihatta.
Even after the Churihatta fire, issuing and renewing licences of chemical business still continue in many cases, read the report.
Political influences, corrupt officials and illegal money are behind such activities.
Undue political influence is also being used to import acid as issuing licence for it is particularly hard.
“Some political leaders have such licences issued in their names despite not
being involved with chemical businesses. They sell licences after acquiring those to businessmen,” added the report.
The inflammable substances are transported publicly, it said adding that “the law enforcers clear the vehicles carrying such elements in exchange of money.”
