United News of Bangladesh

A fire that raged through a jhut (waste fabric) warehouse in Mipur-11 area of Dhaka was brought under control after around one hour of efforts on Friday morning. According to Shahjahan Hossain, duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters control room, the fire originated at around 6:58 am at the warehouse located on Road No. 15/2, Block-C, Avenue-5 of Mirpur-11. 20 slum houses burn down in Ctg fire In response to the emergency call, three firefighting units from nearby Mirpur Fire Station rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control after around one hour of efforts at 7:50am. No casualties were reported in the incident, he said, adding that the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Power Grid Bangladesh PLC has formed a 5-member committee, led by BM Mizanul Hassan, Chief Engineer (System Operation) of the company, to investigate Tuesday morning’s fire incident at Aminbazar 400/230kV substation in Savar. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days, said Samsuddoha Sumon, Public Relations Officer of the Power Grid Bangladesh. The fire broke out at the Aminbazar 400/230kV substation in Savar around 7:15 am and it has been brought under control by 9:15 am after frantic efforts by nine firefighting units, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Assistant Director of the FSCD Headquarters Media Cell. Initially, four units from Savar Fire Service and Kallyanpur Fire Service began working on the fire, but later nine units from Siddique Bazar, Mirpur, Baridhara and other areas joined the efforts to control the blaze. Fire at Aminbazar Substation under control After two hours of efforts, the fire was brought under control. This 230kV power grid station primarily supplies electricity to areas in Dhaka, including Mirpur, Mohammadpur and Kallyanpur. Power supply has now been fully normal in the areas where the Aminbazar supplies power, Sumon told UNB.

The fire that broke out at a building in the Islambag area of the capital on Saturday afternoon has been brought under control. Eight firefighting units brought the fire under control around 4:27 pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector at the FSCD headquarters media cell. Child dies as fire destroys home in Kurigram Earlier, the blaze started at 3:17 pm. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and no casualties have been reported so far, said the fire official.  

Two people have died and three others sustained burn injuries in a devastating fire in Bhuluar Dighir Par area of the port city of Chattogram, said Fire Service on Monday morning. The identities of the casualties could not be known yet. Md Mobarak, senior station officer at Chandanpura Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), said the fire began at Jafar Colony at the western end of the Dighir Par under Kotwali police station around 6:30am. Being informed at 6:42am, four firefighting units from Nandankanan and Chandanpura stations rushed to the spot and rescued five people from the fire, he said. The injured people were sent to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital, where physicians declared two of them dead, the fire service official said, adding that the rest trio was undergoing treatment at the Burn and Plastic Unit at the hospital. Fire damages valuables at Natore leather warehouse The pair might have died after inhaling the smoke and the fire originated from an electric short-circuit, he said, adding that the fire was brought under control at 7:15m. Several rooms of five dwelling houses at the colony were gutted by the fire, causing damage of valuables worth several lakhs of Taka, said Mobarka. The low-income group resides at the colony and fire incidents are reported almost every year.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence have taken extensive preparations to ensure fire safety and provide first aid services at the Biswa Ijtema ground. A temporary control room has been set up, along with mobile numbers for 24-hour service, said Talha Bin Zasim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters media cell. A total of 374 personnel will be on standby to provide fire safety across the Ijtema ground, he added. He said that each area will have two firefighters on duty with fire extinguishers, fire hooks, and fire beaters to handle any immediate fire-related incidents. Two fire control rooms have been set up for monitoring fire safety throughout the ground. A drone unit has also been deployed for continuous surveillance, Talha said. Bangladesh Railway to run special trains for Ijtema attendees Two mobile numbers—01901020865 and 02224410082—will be available 24/7 for fire service assistance at the Ijtema ground, he added. In addition, four water tankers, three ambulances, 14 pumps, 220 fire extinguishers, 13 generators, 128 walkie-talkies, 150 delivery hoses, and 14 branch pipes have been stationed at various locations across the grounds. Besides, a rescue speedboat and a four-person diving team have been kept ready at the Turag River (under Kamarpara Bridge) to prevent water-related accidents. Shab-e-Barat to be observed Feb 14 Six pumps have been placed along the banks of the Turag River, and five more are stationed at different reservoirs to provide water for quick fire suppression. In addition, the Tongi, Uttara, and Joydebpur fire stations will remain on standby during the event.

The fire that broke out in building number 7 of Bangladesh Secretariat has been brought under control, the Fire Service said on Thursday. It took 19 units of the fire service and scores of fire fighters at least six hours to tame the blaze.  Inspector Anwarul Islam of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's media cell said 19 units worked to extinguish the fire. Huge fire engulfs Secretariat's Building No.7 The fire was brought under control at 8:05 am Thursday, he added. Fire fighter, identified by one name Nayan, died during the efforts to control the blaze, officials said. The fire service received information about the fire at the Secretariat building shortly after midnight of Wednesday. The fire service unit at the Secretariat tried to control the fire from 1:54 am. A few minutes later, as the intensity of the fire increased, 19 units reached the spot and started working to control the fire. Govt condemns arson attack on Tripura community's homes in Bandarban At around 8:30 am, some smoke was seen rising from the space between the 8th and 9th floors on the east end of building number 7. The fire department men are still working there. Besides, members of all the forces have also been deployed.

Nayamati, a key commercial hub in Narayanganj city, is marked by its narrow lanes, making it difficult for four-wheeled vehicles to navigate. Despite this, the area sees the annual trade of hosiery products worth hundreds of crores. However, these businesses, collectively valued in the thousands of crores, face significant fire hazards. A ground visit revealed that the entire area is ensnared in a tangle of electrical wires. In some spots, the clutter is so thick that the sky is barely visible from the streets. Locals report frequent fires caused by short circuits in these wires, which are typically extinguished using water from buildings on either side. However, in this bustling commercial zone, where every building is packed with fabric, chemicals, and thread, fire service vehicles are unable to reach the scene. "If a major fire were to occur in this area, no one knows how to handle it," said a hosiery businessman. On October 7 at 11pm, a severe fire erupted in Narayanganj's Kali Bazar area caused by an electrical short circuit, resulting in the destruction of 40 shops. Since that incident, fear and anxiety have taken hold of hosiery traders and workers in Nayamati. Read: Workplace Fire Safety: 12 Effective Ways to Prevent Fire Hazards The Bangladesh Hosiery Association reports that there are approximately 8,000 hosiery businesses in Narayanganj, with the majority situated in Nayamati and its vicinity. Data from the Fire Service highlights that Nayamati is at a high risk for fire incidents, despite its crucial role in meeting Bangladesh's domestic clothing needs. Hosiery businessman Abdus Selim stated, "Every market and building here involves transactions worth crores of taka, but there is no safety for our lives. If you monitor closely, you won't find any fire extinguishing equipment or water reserves. Since fire service vehicles cannot access this area in the event of a fire, businesses should take that into consideration." However, no one seems to be concerned about it, Abdus Selim added. He alleged that the City Corporation, Fire Service, and other government agencies are also responsible for this situation. Abeda Parveen, a worker at Rahman Hosiery, stated, "The road we enter frequently catches fire due to the wires. We have to extinguish the flames using water and sand from the buildings. What more can I say about our workplace? If a fire breaks out on the ground floor, there’s no way for us to escape." Read more: Panel formed to prove vessel fire at Ctg port She noted the stark difference between garment factories and hosiery units, explaining, "Garment factories have two staircases and fire extinguishing equipment, while the hosiery units in Nayamati lack these essentials. Are our owners not making enough money? But, they seem to evade scrutiny." She called on the government to address this issue, warning that without intervention, they could face deadly fires. Meanwhile, some local business owners recognized that although the area is highly susceptible to fire hazards, the Fire Service pays little attention here. They pointed out that there have been no substantial efforts from this government agency to establish a safe commercial environment in Nayamati.  When reached for a comment, Fakhruddin Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Narayanganj Fire Service, stated, "Please call me during office hours; I am currently unwell." Read more: Top Strategies to Enhance Fire Resilience in Dhaka City

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has seen rapid and often unplanned urbanisation since independence. The city’s average annual urban growth rate was as high as 8% from 1991 to 2019. The rapid unplanned and unregulated urban expansion has continued to date. As Dhaka is expanding in terms of physical dimension, population, and structural density, the city suffers from diverse problems like water crises, drainage problems after heavy rains, poor solid waste disposal, inadequate infrastructure, fire accidents, etc. In recent years recurrent fire hazards have claimed many lives and destroyed valuable properties in Dhaka metropolitan areas. Let’s look at the existing fire safety regulations, and necessary recommendations to prevent fire hazards and mitigate losses in Dhaka city.   Rules and Regulations Regarding Fire Safety in Dhaka City  The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) have enacted several laws regarding fire safety such as Building Construction Rules 1996, Bangladesh National Building Code 2006, The Fire Prevention and Extinction Act, 2003, and The Fire Prevention and Extinction Rules, 2014.  According to section 4 of the Fire Prevention and Extinction Act 2003, it is mandatory to obtain a licence from the Directorate General of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense Authority (BFSCDA) to use any building as a warehouse or workshop. Section 7 of the Act necessitates the permission of the BFSCDA DG during the approval process of the structural design or layout of a multi-storied commercial building.  The Fire Protection Act 2003 requires all buildings, including high-rises and commercial establishments to take necessary public security measures including storing sufficient fire-fighting equipment, breathing apparatus, etc.  Rule 22 of the Fire Prevention and Extinction Rules 2014 states that an owner has to apply for an occupancy certificate of the building at the end of the construction.  Rule 17(1) of the Building Construction Rules 1996 requires public safety measures, such as fire alarms, emergency exits, installation of fire extinguishers, etc.  The building code prohibits the construction of any building over six stories without an elevator with a standby generator. Moreover, any high-rise structure with 10 stories or higher should have elevators spacious enough to carry patients on stretchers.  Read more: Organizational strategies to minimize earthquake damages in Dhaka City Why is Dhaka Prone to Fire Disasters?    Dhaka experienced several disastrous fire hazards, such as Nimtoli, Churihatta, FR Tower, Armanitola, New Market, Moghbazar, Bangabazar Market, Bailey Road, etc. Besides these major fire accidents, many small to medium-scale fire hazards have occurred in the residential and commercial buildings of the city in recent years. Now the question arises as to why Dhaka is prone to fire disasters.  Limitations in Legal Framework and Limited Institutional Capacity Bangladesh’s existing legal provisions regarding fire safety are limited and need to be modified. The fire prevention acts, rules, and regulations are not properly implemented in Dhaka city.  Currently, BFSCDA is working as an emergency service-providing organisation with limited involvement in the planning decision.  The number of fire stations and fire service providers in Dhaka city is still inadequate. Furthermore, long-distance travelling by firefighters hamper the timely provision of support to fire-affected areas in many cases.   The city authorities such as Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), City Corporations, etc. are also characterised by weak institutional capacity.  In the process of getting approval for the building plan, the building owners collect the licence. However, there is a lack of proper monitoring from the authorities over the implementation of the fire prevention arrangements and public safety conditions. At present, many buildings are being constructed in Dhaka without fire licences or even planning permissions from RAJUK.  The city authorities need adequate numbers of town planners and fire safety professionals to serve the Dhaka Metropolitan Area inhabited by about 23.9 million people.  Read more: What Can Dhaka Learn from the Smart City Singapore Unplanned Development Dhaka city is growing in an unplanned manner. In different areas of the city high rise structures are being built within the old building blocks. Most of these buildings lack essential arrangements for safeguarding people from fire hazards initiated by electric short circuits, gas cylinder explosions, etc.  The narrow road systems obstruct the entrance, movement and manoeuvre of fire service vehicles at the time of emergency. The low vehicle mobility on the road system due to traffic gridlock increases the response time of the fire service leading to serious destruction from minor fire incidents.  The existence of water retention ponds, lakes, and natural reservoirs is gradually decreasing in different areas of Dhaka city due to excessive population pressure, and unplanned urbanisation. Many water bodies and open spaces are being encroached upon by unauthorised uses and getting filled up for the construction of buildings. During fire hazards, the fire service providers often face scarcity of water due to lack of street fire hydrant arrangement and unavailability of natural water sources at nearby locations.  Besides these, proper land use zoning is yet to be implemented in Dhaka City. The intermixing of residential, commercial, and industrial uses in the same location increases the risk of fire occurrences.  Furthermore, in many areas of Dhaka, FAR rules are not maintained properly which makes the city more disaster-prone.  Read more: A city of fire traps: Decades of tragedies in Dhaka expose systemic failures Some Recommendations to Mitigate Fire Hazards in Dhaka City Fire hazard prevention measures are multi-dimensional. It requires a proper combination of the strong legal and administrative framework, adequate funding, organised institutional capacities, advanced technologies, trained manpower, information dissemination, etc. Let’s look at how to enhance the resilience of Dhaka city from some key perspectives. Raising Public Awareness  Public awareness can minimise the risk of fire incidences and the associated destruction of lives and properties.  During a fire hazard, people usually become very worried and confused. As a result, many people fail to make appropriate decisions to escape from fire. This causes the loss of lives.  Electric short circuits, burners, gas cylinder explosions, etc are the major causes of fire hazards in Dhaka City. Information sharing regarding the causes and preventive measures of fire hazards can raise awareness among city dwellers.  Though some individual buildings have fire fighting equipment, they are inadequate in number. In many cases, the fire safety equipment is located in isolated places and people hardly know how to use it. As a result, the safety equipment can’t provide any benefit at the time of a fire emergency.  In many cases, during fire hazards, curious crowds block the roads, as a result, the firefighting vehicles take longer times to reach the target locations during the time of response. 

Firefighting efforts started this morning in the Sundarbans East Zone’s Amurbunia area, following a fire that erupted on Saturday (May 04, 2024). The operation, which began at 9 am on Sunday (May 05, 2024), saw the coordinated efforts of the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Forest Guard, and Fire Service. The initial response was led by a ten-member team from the Mongla naval base. Following this, members of the Fire Service attempted to set up water extraction from the nearby Bhola River. However, the operation faced a setback due to low tide conditions, delaying the water supply. Probe committee formed over Sundarbans fire Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East Zone, stated that logistical challenges prevented the operation from starting sooner. "The Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force joined the Fire Service this morning to accelerate efforts. Local volunteers are also lending significant support," he reported. Mamun Ahmed, Deputy Director of Bagerhat Fire Service and Civil Defense, detailed the deployment of additional firefighting units. "Five units from various locations were dispatched to the site this morning, with three from Mongla, Morrelganj, and Shoronkhola actively engaging in the firefighting efforts. The remaining two units are on standby," he said. Fire breaks out at Sundarbans

Eleven arson attacks were recorded in the past 15 hours, from 6 pm yesterday till 9 am this morning (November 19, 2023). A total of 11 vehicles were set on fire by miscreants during this time. Of these, five were set on fire inside Dhaka city, according to the media cell of Fire Service and Civil Defence. Also read: Case filed over burning train compartments in Jamalpur Meanwhile, three reports of arson violence were recorded in Rajshahi division, two in Chattogram, and one in Mymensingh, said Talha Bin Zashim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (media cell).  The affected vehicles included six buses, one covered van, one CNG-run autorickshaw, one pickup van, and three carriages of a train. A total of 107 members of 20 firefighting units worked to douse the fires across the country during this period. A 48-hour hartal — called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties — protesting the general election schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC) is underway from this morning amid fear of violence. Also read: CNG-run autorickshaw catches fire as cocktail thrown in Old Dhaka