A devastating fire gutted the Bangabazar Shopping Complex, the clothing market in the capital Dhaka, leaving a trail of destruction in the whole area. The fire burnt over 3,500 shops in the clothing market into ashes, raging more than six hours (from 6.10am to 2:36pm) on Tuesday.
The inferno left traders who had been waiting for the lucrative Eid sales effectively penniless within few hours. Besides, the fire also destroyed goods stored in the adjacent Anexco Tower, Banga Islamia Market, and Banga Homeo Market and a police barrack next to the Police Headquarters.
A total of 48 fire fighting units were in action to bring the fire under control. A joint support team of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force were engaged to control the fire in the Bangabazar. Border Guard Bangladesh personnel, Police, Rapid Action Battalion and local people, as well, worked to bring the fire under control.
Bangabazar Market was declared risky by the city corporation in 2019 and when the corporation took the initiative to construct a new building, the ‘Market Samity’ filed a writ petition before the High Court seeking a stay order against the construction of the new building and the court issued the stay order.
All concerned must stay
alert against recurrence
of such tragedy anywhere
in the country
With more than two weeks left for the Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, the clothing market has been caught by Eid shopping fever bustling with shoppers from all strata. Many traders had banked big on Eid sales to recoup from seasons of losses due to various reasons including the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war. They had invested big in hopes of healthy returns but all their hopes were burnt to ashes in front of their eyes.
The Fire Service and Dhaka South City Corporation have formed two separate committees to investigate the Bangabazar inferno. Rajuk says the buildings in the market and the surrounding markets have been built by the city corporation itself. The city corporation says it did not build this market, rather the businessmen themselves constructed the buildings.
Following the provisions of Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC), the traders must build separate modern infrastructures for running their business alongside ensuring fire safety where any blaze could be contained promptly before it could cause any casualty or major damage. Besides, all concerned must stay alert against recurrence of such tragedy anywhere in the country.
