It is unfortunate that capital Dhaka witnessed a disastrous fire incident at Mohakhali Sattola Bosti (slum) again early Monday. According to a news report published in this daily on Tuesday, the fire gutted over 500 shanties. A shy of relief in this fire, no lives were lost. However, the extent of damage is yet to be assessed. Earlier on November 24, 2020, at least 300 houses were destroyed in a massive fire at the same slum.
Every time fire incidents rekindle the issue of faulty power or gas connections as investigations carried by Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence show. 18 firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control in three hours. But the exact cause of the fire could not be ascertained as yet. However, residents of the slum said that the fire originated from a gas pipe leakage.
It is deeply regrettable that we have not been able to come out of these devastating fire incidents that reflect the dire state of our safety and security situation. Time and again we lay stress on the need for taking more comprehensive measures but to no avail. According to data compiled by the Fire Service at least 30 such fire incidents took place in different slums in Dhaka city last year, while 174 similar incidents occurred at slums in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rangpur during the same period. The Fire Service and Civil Defence has formed a five-member probe body to unearth the exact cause of the fire. The committee has been asked to submit a report within the next seven working days.
Slum dwellers allege that several syndicates operate in five slums in the city and supply illegal gas and electricity to the makeshift establishments. The syndicates run by some local ruling party men in collusion with unscrupulous officials from Desco and Titas Gas who provide these utility service connections. Thousands of people are living in miserable conditions in the city slums despite the government’s pledge to do away with homelessness. Taking advantage of the situation, syndicates of corrupt men make huge amounts of money renting out shanties in slum areas.
We want to say that no groups of people, especially if these are backed by government, must be tolerated to add to the miseries of the lives of people at slums. Utility services should be legally provided to them. We cannot afford to be callous or ignorant when it comes to the issue of loss of property of the poor.
