Following the devastating fire incident at the Green Cozy Cottage building on Bailey Road that killed 46 people and injured several others, authorities in Dhaka have launched a crackdown on restaurants lacking proper fire safety measures. Restaurant owners, however, are critical of the approach.  The Restaurant Owners Association has labelled these operations as “harassment” and “for show”, lacking in coordination. The operations, according to the association, seem to target the restaurant industry unfairly, calling for a more integrated approach to address safety violations. Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, criticized the sporadic nature of these operations, arguing for regular and coordinated efforts. He highlighted the injustice in arresting restaurant workers for building faults, suggesting that the responsibility lies with RAJUK (the development authority) officials and building owners before considering the tenants such as restaurant operators. Entry-level women's recruitment doubles in banking sector, but board representation still lagging Imran Hasan, General Secretary of the Restaurant Owners Association, expressed the sector's frustrations over the lack of support from any ministry despite repeated pleas. He called for a meeting with the Prime Minister, signaling their readiness to shut down operations if found culpable.  However, he questioned the logic behind blanket closures, arguing for a constructive resolution. Around 200 restaurants in Dhaka have been closed, he said, raising concerns about the crackdown. Currently, Bangladesh houses approximately 481,000 restaurants, providing employment for 30 lakh people, the general secretary of Restaurant Owners Association said. He also underlined the struggles with bureaucratic red tape and the desperation for constructive dialogue and solutions. Hasan called for the Prime Minister's intervention, reflecting the dire situation of entrepreneurs and workers within the industry, whose livelihoods are at stake. Fire safety: How safe are the restaurants in Dhaka’s upscale areas? The opposition's Chief Whip, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, has also alleged lack of coordination in the drives against risky and unauthorized buildings operating amid fire risk. “A magistrate went and destroyed a shop. Another goes and says stop. The authorities need to take a concerted, slow and steady approach in conducting fire safety drives,” he said while participating in an unscheduled discussion in the Parliament last Tuesday. RAJUK's Chairman, Anisur Rahman Mia, meanwhile has announced plans to list at-risk buildings, intending to mark them clearly and disconnect utilities in coordination with service providers, emphasizing the need for collaboration among various agencies for effective regulation. This situation sheds light on the complexities of urban safety, regulatory enforcement, and the livelihoods dependent on sectors like dining, calling for balanced, fair, and coordinated efforts to ensure public safety without unjustly jeopardizing businesses and jobs. Read more: Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings

In the heart of Dhaka’s upscale neighbourhoods – Dhanmondi, Gulshan, and Banani – a burgeoning restaurant scene thrives within the confines of multi-storey buildings. This rapid expansion, however, brings to light grave concerns over fire safety practices, or the lack thereof. Many of these dining establishments lack comprehensive fire safety measures, relying solely on elevators and a solitary staircase for emergency exits. This inadequate infrastructure places patrons and employees in a precarious position, with their safety hanging in the balance. Conversations with residents of these areas shed light on these alarming realities, further underscored by the recent tragedy on Bailey Road, which has sown seeds of fear and apprehension among diners. The indiscriminate sprouting of restaurants, many of which have been operating without fire safety licenses for years, exacerbates the risk. These establishments, often housed in structures originally intended for residential use, now serve commercial purposes, thereby complicating the fire safety landscape. This issue is not confined to a few isolated cases; nearly every alley in these areas is lined with cafes and restaurants, with some buildings entirely dedicated to these businesses. The architectural design, characterised by an extensive use of glass, restricts the inflow of air, and in the event of a fire, leaves breaking the glass as the only means to combat the flames. The structural layout presents further challenges for emergency evacuation. Narrow staircases, cluttered or locked, significantly hinder the ability of patrons to evacuate safely in case of an emergency, turning what should be a straightforward escape route into a potential trap. Read more: Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings The fear of fire is not an abstract concern for the residents of Gulshan and Banani. Moniruzzaman, a businessman from Gulshan, and Didarul Haq Sunny, another businessman from Banani, voiced their apprehensions about dining out in the post-Bailey Road fire era. “There’s a prevailing fear of taking families to restaurants in the Gulshan-Banani area, as it’s unclear which establishments have fire safety measures,” Moniruzzaman said. Didarul mentioned ceasing restaurant visits after the Bailey Road tragedy, citing fire safety as a major concern. Their concerns highlight a critical demand for Dhaka’s development authority, RAJUK, to enforce and oversee rigorous fire safety standards across all restaurants. Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), echoed these sentiments. He pointed to the widespread practice of converting entire buildings into dining spaces, enveloped in glass, which fundamentally compromises fire safety protocols. The aftermath of the Bailey Road tragedy has left a palpable sense of urgency among citizens and experts alike, calling for immediate action from RAJUK and other relevant authorities to mitigate the risk of future incidents. Read more: Petition filed seeking closure of restaurants in residential buildings Dr. Adil advocated for detailed inspections of fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and alarms, and insisted on comprehensive safety audits for all multi-storey and specially purposed buildings. Despite existing regulations mandating two staircases in buildings, the reality on the ground reveals a stark misuse of these provisions, with designated fire exits often repurposed as storage areas. This blatant disregard for safety norms necessitates a stringent enforcement of building codes and fire safety regulations. RAJUK’s Chairman, Anisur Rahman Mia, acknowledged the challenges at hand, committing to a series of actions aimed at identifying and rectifying establishments lacking in fire safety measures. He drew attention to the widespread issue of illegal commercial activities within residential buildings, underscoring RAJUK’s dedication to enforcing legal and safety standards. With over 517,000 buildings under its jurisdiction in Dhaka, of which only 200,000 are approved, RAJUK faces a daunting task. An astonishing 90% of the approved buildings deviated from their original designs, complicating the enforcement of fire safety and building codes, the public agency says. Read more: A city of fire traps: Decades of tragedies in Dhaka expose systemic failures

BiP’s mother company Turkcell keeps adding new features to BiP, a global life and communication platform home-grown in Turkey with recently launched the ‘status’ feature for its app.  Now, users can instantly share their videos and photos and add text to images, said a media release. Other users can also view them and comment on them.  The new feature allows BiP users to share their videos or photos, they can also upload fresh or previously archived images or videos from their gallery.  They can also see who has viewed their ‘status’. Those who share their status can see others’ status as well (from their contact list).  Read: Turkish BiP offers group calls up to 15 participants to brighten up this Eid They can also enter their chat window and reply to other people’s statuses. On how users’ feedback helps improve BiP, the company’s Executive Vice President of Digital Services and Solutions, Ataç Tansuğ said that Turkcell always listens to its customers about their wants and needs and then creates products and services accordingly.  “We’re constantly updating and improving BiP – and rely on user feedback to do so. For example, our users have been demanding a ‘status’ feature for a long time, so we added one. In addition, we fine-tune all of our products and services per the latest requirements in both safety and privacy. We are investing in new security features at the moment; we aim to introduce end-to-end security by the end of this year," he said. Turkcell stores BiP users’ data at special high-security data centers across Turkey.  BiP’s latest version is available at GooglePlay AppStore, GooglePlay and Huawei AppGallery, please visit http://onelink.to/bip-id

BiP is an instant messaging application. This freeware is owned and developed by Turkcell. With more than 82 million downloads worldwide, the communication platform BiP has added another new one to its distinctive innovations to meet the needs and demands of its users. The maximum number of participants in HD-quality voice and group video calls via BiP has increased to 15, said a media release on Friday. In this Eid, people who are far away from each other will get closer with BiP, while crowded families and large groups of friends can also make video calls to celebrate each other's Eid. Read Top WhatsApp Alternatives for Free Calling and Group Chatting BiP, developed by Turkish engineers and whose user data is protected in high-security data centres in Turkey, continues to be the pioneer of communication platforms with superior features that differ from its competitors. The number of participants for HD-quality audio and group video calls over BiP, a platform with more than 82 million downloads, has increased from 10 to 15 now. BiP, which nearly doubles the maximum number of participants compared to its competitors, will continue to be the meeting point for business and recreational meetings and the best option for families to meet up and celebrate Eid together. Read: Bangladeshis on top in calls among foreign markets for BiP Stating that BiP has turned into a global player with millions of users in 192 countries worldwide, BiP Communication Technologies and Digital Services General Manager Burak Akıncı said they have become one of the fastest-growing communication platforms internationally. "Thanks to our group video calling, voice, and video calling from a web interface, disappearing messages, instant translation in 106 languages and money sending features that we have implemented long before competitor applications, as well as our transparent policy on personal data protection. Read Android 12 Key Features: What’s New? "Before Eid, we implemented another innovation and increased the number of participants in our group video call feature to 15. We wanted to give our users a gift for Eid. In the coming period, we will continue to equip our application with new features that will make a difference by taking the feedback and demands from our users into account". Switch from other applications is extremely easy Switching to BiP from other messaging apps is also easy. BIP's "Group Moving" feature, which everyone can use regardless of the operator around the world, users can quickly and easily transfer their groups and chat histories in the messaging app they used before to BiP. Also read: Samsung brings big offers ahead of Eid Unlike other messaging apps, users can transfer their existing groups to BiP while automatically adding users who have installed BiP in the group without having to select them individually. Anyone can visit http://bit.ly/bip-indir for voice and video calls for up to 15 people in HD quality with BiP.

Turkey’s secure communication platform BiP introduces its new feature, allowing users to convey their group chats easily from other applications and in call traffic, Bangladeshis are the champion among foreign markets where BiP operates.  Reaching out to 80 million users globally, BiP sustains innovative investments and introduces group chat import enabling users to move their existing group and individual chats including videos and photographs automatically at once.  Unlike other applications, users are not obliged to manually add every fellow user one by one as BiP handles the import directly by adding all participants in, said a media release on Thursday.  Commenting on the most recent feature of BiP Burak AKINCI, CEO of BiP, said digitization is becoming a norm rapidly and a messaging application is not only a messaging application anymore but more of a living ecosystem via they communicate, work and trade.  "Users need to feel safe and secure in that ecosystem. In an era where we are under continuous cyber-crime threats as businesses and individuals, consumers’ protection and consent are critical. Data ethics and security has paramount importance for us. A protected and seamless migration experience is a symbol for our dedication in a thorough and fulfilled CX.” Bangladesh is a growing market Underlining the importance of the Bangladeshi market, AKINCI said Bangladeshi users have welcomed BiP warmly from the very first day on.  "In the first quarter of 2021 we’ve reached more than 2.5 million downloads with very high rates of like scores in various platforms." As one of the rising stars of the global digital economy this market offers invaluable potential in various platforms, said the CEO. "We also pursue productive collaborations with operators and local content providers in Bangladeshi market. We’ll gratefully continue to invest in innovative and relevant solutions to make Bangladeshi consumers’ everyday lives easier and productive.” Bangladeshis are the leaders in calls Bangladeshi users make great use of BiP’s HD quality group video calls of up to 10 people.  In call traffic, Bangladeshis are the champion among foreign markets where BiP operates.  The peak day for the downloads is Monday and Dhaka comes up as the first city in terms of download numbers within the country.  BiP’s awarded instant translation and secret messaging are other significant features that are highly preferred by Bangladeshi consumers.  BiP instantly translates written words and phrases in 106 languages, including Bengali, and Urdu.  BiP has received the ‘Most Innovative Mobile App’ award at 2020 Global Mobile Awards under ‘Connected Consumer Category’ with this built-in real-time translation feature. Secret chat is another highly preferred feature in Bangladesh as it enables users to make the chats disappear from the chat screen within the period they determine.  Secret chat creates a solid sense of security and privacy for its users, with no data backed up by BiP or decrypted.  In BiP, no data is shared with third parties, and all data is kept under high-tech data centers in Turkey.  Nothing is imposed on the users, and everything is operated under their consent only.

In Old Dhaka, known for its food, centuries-old buildings and narrow alleys, people are living with “bombs” in the form of hundreds of chemical warehouses that pepper this historic neighbourhood. Fires at such godowns, which lack safety measures, have killed scores over the years. Eleven years after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the relocation of the warehouses following the death of about 100 people in Nimtoli fire, they are yet to be shifted largely because of vehement opposition by traders. Another 78 lives were lost in the infamous Chawkbazar fire but the tragic deaths did not bring about any change. Also read: Armanitola chemical warehouse fire: 2 owners held After the latest fire incident that started at a chemical storehouse on April 23 at Armanitola killing four people, the government is now saying that these godowns will be relocated permanently to Munshiganj within 2022. Industries Secretary KM Ali Azam told UNB that preparing a 308-acre plot for relocation is going on in Munshiganj. About 2,000 warehouses can be set up there. For now, 53 warehouses will be shifted to Tongi temporarily – seven of them have already been relocated. Another 54 will be moved to Shyampur – 19 have already been shifted and the rest will be relocated within three months, the secretary said. Asked about such storehouses in Dhaka, he said available information put the number at around 2,000. “We can relocate them permanently to Munshiganj within 2022,” Secretary Azam said. Read BSEC moves to set up chemical warehouse at Tongi Relocation ‘Very Soon’ A committee, headed by the Cabinet, secretary supervises the relocation of chemical warehouses and all aspects of this trade, he said. The committee has representatives from Rajuk, Industries Ministry, Home Ministry and other related ministries. This committee also oversees licences for the traders. Dhaka South City Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and newly-appointed Rajuk Chairman ABM Aminullah Noori told UNB that the Industries Ministry had undertaken two projects to relocate the chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka. The projects are in Munshiganj and Tongi. The one in Tongi is expected to be completed within this year. “Once they’re ready, all the chemical warehouses will be moved out of Old Dhaka,” he said. Also read: Fire guts 3 Keraniganj chemical warehouses, 10 hurt He, however, did not give a timeframe for completion of the projects. “We’re optimistic about relocating them very soon,” he said. Aminullah said the unplanned warehouses of Old Dhaka are a long-time issue. “It can’t be resolved without the cooperation of local traders and residents. Moving the warehouses took time because of the local traders’ opposition,” he said, adding that the government is continuing its efforts and is optimistic that godowns will be relocated soon. Read Armanitola building fire: One more victim dies Ticking Time Bombs Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) General Secretary Dr Adil Mohammad Khan said: “The people in Old Dhaka are living on a bomb. The warehouses were not moved even 11 years after the Nimtoli tragedy.” He said such incidents will recur if the government does not take strong steps to protect the people’s lives and properties. “The chemicals stored in Old Dhaka and other areas pose a constant threat of deadly explosions. Necessary steps should be taken after finding out the reasons why the warehouses were not relocated even after the Nimtoli and Churihatta incidents,” he said adding that exemplary punishment should be meted out. Also read: BSEC moves to set up chemical warehouse at Tongi Adil lauded the city corporations for not issuing trade licences for chemical warehouses after the Nimtoli and Churihatta incidents. “The authorities concerned haven’t been able to successfully monitor the chemical warehouse and factories,” he said. Making Everyone Accountable BIP said that most of the chemical factories and warehouses in Old Dhaka were not constructed following building code and standard. “People are residing in the same building housing warehouses, a dangerous practice that has been going on for years,” he said. These warehouses were constructed out of greed, violating the rules. “Their existence has put a big question mark on our pledges to build a modern and livable city,” he said. Read Fire at Old Dhaka plastic factory brought under control Backtracking from an earlier decision to relocate chemical warehouses to multi-storey buildings in Keraniganj BSCIC Industrial Estate facing opposition from traders was delaying the relocation. The government decided to shift warehouses by building a plot-based industrial estate. Many house owners in Old Dhaka are illegally renting out their buildings to be used as chemical factories and warehouses to earn extra bucks. They themselves are living in other areas, leaving their tenants in danger. “This practice will continue until the house owners are brought under the law. Traders of illegal chemical factories and warehouses should be brought to book,” he said. “And, actions should be taken against the government officials concerned if they’ve neglected their work (in this regard).” Also read: Fire at Benapole port chemical warehouse

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Thursday virtually launched a book- “Porikalpona Poribhasa” (Planning terminology) to make Bengali translations of essential terms in planning available in a collection.

Wetlands in the capital city of Dhaka declined to 4.38 percent from 14.25 percent in the last 20 years due to unplanned urbanisation, finds a new study.