Most city establishments run without fire safety

Most of the hospitals, educational institutions, shopping malls, banks and residential hotels in the capital city lack adequate fire safety measures, endangering the lives of people.

The establishments may turn into death traps for city dwellers if fire breaks out as thousands of people gather there every day.

Directorate of Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) has repeatedly sent letters and notices to strengthen the fire-fighting system, but the authorities of these institutions seem indifferent to them.

Around 80 percent fire incidents in the capital happen in such establishments, according to FSCD data.

FSCD conducted a survey between January and March last year. During the survey, they visited 3,786 establishments in the capital and found that 1,069 were extremely risky (with no fire-safety measures) while 2,588 were risky (with some fire-safety measures installed) and only 129 satisfactory.

The establishments include schools, colleges, universities, shopping malls, banks, hospitals, media centres and residential hotels.

Then, the directorate sent letters to the most risky and risky establishments, asking them to strengthen the fire-fighting system within a month.

But, no organisation strengthens their fire-fighting system.

The FSCD conducted another survey during October-November period last year.

During the survey, they inspected 3,734 establishments in the capital.

They found that 1,066 establishments were extremely risky while 2,583 were risky and only 85 were satisfactory.

After the survey, the FSCD is now sending final notices to those establishments for strengthening their fire-fighting system.

In the final survey, the FSCD inspected 1,305 private and government-owned malls, supermarkets and kitchen markets and found 622 were extremely risky and 678 were risky.

The 622 extremely risky shopping malls include Chandni Chowk, Gulshan Tower, Bangabazar Complex, Polwel Super Market, Mirpur Shopping Complex, Shyamali Garden and Lalmatia Aarong Market.

They visited a total of 423 hospitals and clinics across the capital. Of the hospitals, 311 were marked as risky while 105 were extremely risky.

The hospitals include Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Mitford Hospital, National Institute of Chest Disease and Hospital, National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICHE), United Hospital, Labaid and Ibn Sina.

The FSCD officials visited 336 residential hotels in the capital and found that 21 were extremely risky and 305 risky.

The 21 extremely risky residential hotels include Radisson Blu, Le Meridian, Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort, Tea Tree Hotels & Resorts, La Vinci Hotel and Royal Grand Hotel.

A total 576 banks were inspected. Of them, only 50 banks were found satisfactory while three banks were extremely risky and 523 risky.

During the inspection of 1,074 educational institutes, the FSCD officials found that 295 educational institutions were extremely risky while 766 risky.

The most risky educational institutions include Dhaka University (DU), Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Bangla College, Habibullah Bahar University College, BRAC University and Daffodil International University.

Md Wahidul Islam, assistant director of warehouse and fire prevention at FSCD headquarters, said the basic fire safety facilities include fire detection and alarm systems, extinguishers, hose reels with water connection, fire escape route, accessible road and reservoir with adequate water reserve.

It also needs safe shelter assembly space and in-house trained fire-fighting team, he added.

According to the FSCD, some of the building owners did not implement the requirements although they managed the NOC (No Objection Certificate) before construction.

On the other hand, some of the owners did not care about the fire department certificate while building their structures.

Talking to the daily sun, Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate director general (DG) Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan said, “Most of the organisations do not have fire-fighting systems.”

“After inspection, notices were sent to those risky organizations but they pay no heed to our notices,” he added.

He said, “The list of risky organizations has already been sent to the home ministry. Quick actions will be taken in this regard.”

“Fire Service decided to conduct a mobile court drive against the violators, but the plan was cancelled after the High Court order. However, it is important to give power to the Fire Service in this regard,” he added.