The managing director of BM Container Depot, Mujibur Rahman, must be arrested within the next 24 hours, Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad general secretary  Ariful Islam Adib said  in a protest rally Monday.  Today (Monday) Bangladesh Chhatra Adhikar Parishad staged a rally protesting the corruption and mismanagement of the owners of BM Container Depot, near the anti-terrorist Raju Monument on the DU campus around 3 pm. During the rally they also placed a four-point demand. The demands are to arrest Mujibur Rahman, within the next 24 hours, to investigate the accident and the corruption of BM Container Depot owners, to provide proper compensation to the victims and their families, and to modernise the Fire Service. Also Read: Sitakunda fire: Authorities lower death toll to 41 Akhter Hossain, president of the Dhaka University branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, said, "We are saddened by the incident at Sitakunda in Chittagong. It is very sad that though there are laws in this country, there are more ways to disobey the law." "There are specific policies for importing and storing chemicals in the country.  But it seems that law has no value as the owner class has more money when people die in an accident. They just offer the victims' families a token compensation against their misdeeds," he added. Demanding appropriate compensation to all those who have been harmed in the BM Container Depot fire, Ariful Islam Adib, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad central panel, said, "In this current situation,  students, workers, and general people have ha value in this country.  We make a clear demand from today's program that those involved in the fire should be brought to justice expeditiously.  The accused must be arrested within the next 24 hours."  He also demanded to ensure safe use of chemicals.

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr. Hasan Mahmud on Monday said the government is investigating whether the Sitakunda fire is a real accident or sabotage to overshadow the inauguration ceremony of the much-awaited Padma Bridge. “You all know that ill-attempts continued to create anarchy in the country after the announcement of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. In some places, anarchy has been created. We need to investigate whether there was any sabotage in the deadly fire incident in Sitakunda,” he said.    The minister made the remarks while briefing journalists after visiting the injured at Chattogram Medical College Hospital in the evening.  Also Read: BNP made journalists ‘labourers’: Hasan Mahmud Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) director Brig Gen Shamim Ahsan, principal Dr. Shahena Akter, Chattogram zilla parishad administrator and  Chattogram North Awami League president MA Salam, Chattogram South Awami League general secretary Mafizur Rahman, Sitakunda upazila chairman SM Al Mamun, among others, were present. Hasan Mahmud said, “Some media reported that the owner of this depot is an Awami League leader. The fact is Awami League leader Mujibur Rahman has only five percent ownership in the depot. Those who didn’t tell the 95 percent ownership and tried to make this the depot of an Awami League man, are not right. They did false journalism.” Describing Awami League men’s effort to help the fire victims, the senior leader of the party said, “Awami League leaders and activists extended their helping hand as party president has directed to do this. Our men still are working on the spot.” He also thanked civil administration, government, and private hospitals for their immediate response to the devastating fire incident.     

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday demanded a judicial investigation into the massive fire at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda to uncover the reason behind it. In a statement, he said, “The nation has become shocked and stunned by such a terrible fire incident. Bangladesh's image in world trade has also been severely damaged.” Also read: GM Quader expresses doubt about fair polls under ‘despotic’ govt GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said that it should be examined whether there is any negligence in the maintenance or the storage of the containers. “Exemplary punishment should be ensured against those responsible for the blaze. A judicial inquiry committee should be formed to find out the real reasons behind the fire incident,” he observed. The Jatiya Party chairman suggested enhancing Bangladesh's capacity to prevent fire incidents. He expressed deep shock and sorrow over the huge casualties in the fire. GM Quader prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls of the victims and conveyed his profound sympathy to the bereaved families. He wished speedy recovery to the injured and urged the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment of the injured. Also read: Bangladesh has become a paradise for money launderers: GM Quader The Jatiya Party chief also called upon the government to provide families of the injured and the dead with judicious compensation. A deadly fire that broke out at BM Container Depot in Chattogram’s Sitakunda on Saturday night killed at least 49 people and injured more than 300 others.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said the deadly fire at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda has exposed a very fragile state system in Bangladesh. “No security measures were taken there. I am terrified to think a country that has been said to be a modern one like Singapore, has no minimum security of human life. This government is only making money indulging in stealing in the name of development,” he said. Also read: Price Hike: BNP asks AL to learn from 1974 famine The BNP leader was talking to reporters at the local press club in the district. He said there were insufficient security measures in the container depot. “There’re no safety measures to prevent fire or any other accidents.” Fakhrul also said the government has even failed to ensure proper treatment for the injured. “The Awami League government has completely failed to build a modern container depot which is really needed for the development of the country.”  A devastating fire that broke out at BM Container Depot in Chattogram’s Sitakunda on Saturday night killed at least 43 people and injured more than 300 others. Meanwhile, in a statement issued from BNP’s central office in the capital, Fakhrul expressed deep shock and sorrow over the huge loss of lives in the fire. He said disasters like fires and different accidents are increasing day by day due to the limitless failure of the ‘illegitimate’ government. “This government has no accountability to people. So no matter how many accidents happen, no matter how many fatalities occur, they keep their eyes closed. People’s lives have no value to them,” the BNP leader said. He alleged that the ruling party men are involved in every tragic incident in one way or another. “Had the government properly investigated the incidents and put the offenders under trial from the beginning, such incidents would not have happened again and again.” The BNP leader lamented that so many people were killed in the blast and fire while many other people are fighting for life following the Sitakunda blaze. The government is responsible for this incident. It has also proved once again how failed this government is.” Also read:BNP holds talks with Kalyan Party to wage greater movement He also said though the present government talks about development, it has failed to provide security to the people. “So, Awami League can no longer be kept in power. Democracy and the country will be in danger if it can’t be removed from power.” Fakhrul prayed for the salvation of the departed souls of the victims and conveyed his deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and demanded immediate medical treatment for the injured.