As winter sets in, the weather will remain dry, posing risks to the fire incident at any place in the country. Therefore, at the beginning of the dry season, we all have to take preparations in advance to prevent the fire incidents. Dry season is synonymous with fire season.
At least ten people were killed and 27 injured in 1,475 fire incidents that occurred across the country last month, a study of Fire Service and Civil Defence says on Tuesday. Of them, 163 fire incidents occurred in Dhaka city where three persons died and 15 suffered injuries. We often see many people were killed while many other received serious injuries in the devastating fires. The killing of so many people in the frequent fires also sent a shock-wave throughout the country. When a devastating fire incident takes place anywhere in the country, government, experts and different non-government organisations come up with various suggestions and instructions, arrange seminar, symposium and dialogue that how and in what ways the fire incidents can be prevented. They issue many directives to ensure building codes and fire safety regulations implemented in factory buildings and other large establishments.
Last month’s fire
incidents again raised
questions about
emergency services
and safety measures
However, all the directives and suggestions are ignored or remain ineffective and the safety issue is very poorly maintained due to inadequate follow-up. Besides, the authorities concerned and owners of buildings or industries do not inspect fire safety arrangements of factory buildings and other establishments regularly.
Therefore, we think the government must compel the businessmen to maintain building codes strictly in constructing any building, and to create water reservoirs and preserve lakes. Besides, the architects will design buildings, keeping the environment in mind, to ensure fire exits and other gadgets necessary for extinguishing fire.
The number of last month’s fire incidents again raised questions about emergency services and safety measures. Most of the buildings, offices, courts, schools, colleges, universities, institutions, shopping malls, recreation centres, cinemas, industries and all structures still remain out of the fire fighting and extinguishing systems.
But, the authorities concerned responsible for ensuring fire extinguishing system in every structure, have not taken any effective initiative to this end yet. We people do not like to see the repetition of such tragic fire accident that continue taking people’s lives in capital Dhaka and other places of the country. We believe the government will do everything possible for prevention of fire incidents in advance as winter sets in.