Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said necessary measures will be taken quickly after identifying the risky markets in the capital.
After visiting fire-ravaged Bangabazar, the home boss said, businessmen should leave the establishments soon after the Fire Service's announcement of risky buildings.
He further said the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will take measures to build a modern and safe market at the place of Bangabazar.
He said that the DSCC will make logical decisions regarding the rehabilitation of the affected traders of Bangabazar.
Referring to the formation of two probe committees, Kamal said a committee was formed on behalf of the Fire Service and another was formed by the Home Ministry.
Addressing the businessmen, he said that targeting the upcoming Eid, the traders took money from friends and relatives and stored up various goods for selling. "But everything was destroyed in a terrible fire. The prime minister has monitored the fire incident and she will take decisions on how to assist the businessmen," Kamal added.
He said when the fire broke out at 6:10 am, within two to three minutes, the Fire Service units arrived and started working to control the fire.
"But the fire spread quickly... but the expert officials of the Fire Service faced obstacles due to various reasons. The fire also spread to the police headquarters next door and damaged valuables," the home minister said.
He said the terrible fire completely destroyed four markets and injured several members of the Fire Service.
Earlier, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said the government will rehabilitate the traders affected by the devastating fire at Bangabazar market.
He said that the rehabilitation process will start on instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the government determines the losses incurred by the traders.
The Fire Service and Civil Defence will start a massive a drive for identifying markets at risk of fire and hazards from 6 April.
Director General Brigadier General of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Md Main Uddin made this remark while talking to the reporters after visiting the Bangabazar on Wednesday.
He further said the fire had ravaged the 5th and 6th floor of the Annexco Tower, where 12 fire fighting units were still fighting to douse the flames.
Responding to a question about the water crisis during the rescue operation, he said they will try to make the people obey the national building codes and sit with the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha and home ministry next week.
The chief of the Fire Service and Civil Defence also water hydrants are a must for urban life. Unfortunately, we only have those at a few factories.
Terming Gawsia and Rajdhani Super Market as risky, the DG said there were several others.
We will launch a drive and serve notices to those markets from 6 April. According to the national code, those markets have to have exit points and fire extinguishing amenities, he added.
The move comes following a devastating fire at Baagabazar on Tuesday that left at least 3,500 shops gutted, some 5,000 traders have been affected. The incident also left 36 people injured.
A total of 48 fire service units along with members of the armed forces, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) worked together to bring the situation under control.
On 1 April 2019, the fire service had declared the Bangabazar apparel market highly risky in terms of fire safety.
DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh also said DSCC will provide financial assistance to the traders affected by Bangabazar fire, said.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will provide sufficient grants so that the small traders affected by the fire can turn around again. Besides, we will also give them financial assistance according to our capacity," said the mayor at a meeting with the leaders of the affected traders at his office in the capital's Nagar Bhaban
"To get the assistance, please coordinate with the investigation committee we have formed. Prepare the full list of affected traders by next Saturday," he told the business leaders.
Mentioning the importance of government grants for the affected traders, Taposh said, "You should work honestly and diligently so that no one else's name other than the actual affected traders appears in the list."
He also said that there will be a meeting with the business leaders again next Sunday after the list is prepared.
On Wednesday afternoon, in front of the burnt-down market, people of all ages were seen taking away leftover goods, even in front of the police.
Some were seen carrying goods on their heads, others in their hands, on their shoulders, or in vans.
There seemed to be zero accountability over which goods belonged to whom.
A child was found carrying away items from the wreckage. When asked what he would do with them, he said he would sell them.
Such one of them is Jasim Miah. When asked whose goods he was taking and why, he replied: “I am not looting alone. Everyone is taking whatever they can, so I am doing it too.”
Salma Begum, a victim of the fire whose goods were destroyed in the blaze, was seen standing at the site with a hopeless expression.
“After standing there for a long time, there is nothing more to say about what I have witnessed. Many people are seen opening the packaged goods, but no one is speaking against it,” she expressed her disappointment.
Regarding the incident, Assistant Police Commissioner Shahinur Ziad, who was stationed for security in the Bangabazar area, said: “Whenever I asked people about the goods they were taking away, they said they had stores here and these belong to them. That is why we cannot say anything. The shop owners are salvaging their goods and taking advantage of that opportunity, scavengers are also taking whatever they can.”
“It is difficult to find the real owners among so many people,” he added.
Firefighters were still desperately trying to extinguish the fire at Anexco Tower till filling the report around 8:pm Wednesday.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post on Wednesday evening, Md Shajahan Sikder said, at present one fire fighter unit is working. A fire pump was deployed he said adding that hopefully we shall need continue it for long time.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is trying to figure out the cause of the fire as well.
