A fire that broke out on the "MV Bangali" launch in Dhaka’s Shyambar Launch Terminal was brought under control on Tuesday. Five firefighting units brought the fire under control at 1:45 pm on Tuesday, said Talha Bin Zasim Station Officer of FSCD headquarters media cell. Earlier, the fire broke out at 12:55 pm. No passengers were on the launch at the time of the fire, added the fire official.

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

A writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directives to close all restaurants in residential buildings in Dhaka including on Bailey Road. Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond filed the writ petition with the High Court bench concerned on Sunday (March 03, 2024). Besides, the petition also sought directives to provide compensation to the family members of the deceased and injured in the Bailey Road fire and arrest of those responsible in the fire incident. Read more: A city of fire traps: Decades of tragedies in Dhaka expose systemic failures Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Israt Zahan Santona filed another writ petition with the High Court bench concerned seeking judicial investigation into the deadly fire at Green Cozy Cottage Building on Bailey Road that claimed the lives of 46 people. The petitions will move to the HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque. Secretaries to the Public Works Ministry, Cabinet Division, Home Ministry, Inspector General of Police, Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), nayors of Dhaka North and South city corporations were made responsible in the writ petitions. Read more: Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings On Thursday night, a massive fire broke out at a building on Dhaka's Bailey Road leaving at least 46 people dead and injuring dozens of people. Later, a case was filed with Ramna police station.

Bangladesh isn’t new to fire accidents. In the last several years, the country has seen some devastating fire accidents that claimed the lives of hundreds and destroyed millions in property. The recent fire in Dhaka’s busy Bailey Road which claimed the lives of 46 individuals only resonates with the helplessness and despondency left behind by the tragedy. Every fire incident brings forth the question of fire safety audit or lack thereof. Because a tangible and thorough audit could’ve saved the 46 precious human lives and the many more we’ve lost thus far.  What is a Fire Safety Audit?  A fire safety audit is the systematic process of examining the compliance and preparedness of a building in the wake of a fire accident. The primary purpose of such audits is to identify potential hazards, evaluate the effectiveness of existing safety measures, and ensure that the building is equipped to handle emergencies, particularly fires.  These audits are typically conducted by qualified professionals, such as fire safety engineers or specialists, and may involve collaboration with local fire departments or regulatory authorities. In the case of Bangladesh, the primary regulatory body includes RAJUK (for Dhaka city), city corporations, and the Fire Service and Civil Defense department. Read more: Fire Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Children Safe A fire safety audit considers the following points of action:  - Existing fire protection system - Construction and design of the building - Emergency evacuation channels - Electrical and mechanical compliance - Documentation - Compliance with building codes - Risk assessment - Overall security measures  Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings Safety of the Occupants  The first and foremost reason for a fire and life safety audit is the safety of the occupants. A comprehensive audit helps to understand whether there is any structural flaw that might potentially be life-threatening for the occupants. It also helps to assess the preparedness of the occupants in case of an emergency and even educate them about the same.  Read more: Fire Safety in Apartments: Causes and Prevention Compliance with the Building Code  Fire safety audits can help to assess whether the building has been constructed in line with the proper building code. Compliance with the building code goes beyond the scope of just a legal requirement. It ensures that the building and its occupants have safety measures in place should there be any hazardous accidents.  One of the common building codes concerning fire safety is the construction of a fire exit and a second staircase. According to the city corporation, any building over five stories should have a second staircase. RAJUK puts the limit up to the tenth floor. The Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting Act of Bangladesh regulates that any building over six stories should have an emergency fire exit. 

The fire that engulfed two oil tanker trucks at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s 3rd terminal this morning has been doused. Shahjahan Shikdar, Deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters’ media cell, said the two oil tanker trucks caught fire at 10:12 am today (December 14, 2022). Also read: Fire breaks out at BM container depot in Chattogram On information, four firefighting units rushed to the spot and had the fire under control at 10:52 am. The firefighters managed to fully douse the fire at 11:28 am. However, what caused the fire could not be known immediately. Read More: APBn detains man with gold worth Tk 69 lakh at Dhaka Airport

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said it is becoming clearer that sabotage was behind the recent fire incidents including at BM Container Depot and a moving train. The minister said this while replying to journalists at the secretariat on Monday. Hasan Mahmud said he was saying from the beginning that investigation is needed to identify whether there was any sabotage behind the container depot fire. After that fire broke out inside a moving train in Sylhet from the toilet and another train caught fire in Khulna. Also read: Online news portals cannot legally broadcast talk shows, bulletins: Hasan Mahmud “The sabotage conspiracy has become clearer gradually. Actually these incidents are being planned to fade the celebratory atmosphere prevailing across the country by spreading panic,” said Hasan Mahmud. “The matter is under investigation and it will become clearer after getting a report. I personally believe there was sabotage behind it.” Earlier, Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) leaders handed a a memorandum with six demands: to stop online video broadcasting of newspapers, stop broadcasting news on IP TV, full implementation of clean feed, launch of TRP service, digitization of cable network and imposing special tax on companies producing advertisements with foreign models. Also read: Journo Fazle Elahi to get justice: Hasan Mahmud The minister said, “The online versions of newspapers were registered on condition that they will only upload the contents of the newspaper. Online versions of newspapers and news portals don’t have legal approval to broadcast talk shows or bulletins.” ATCO’s other written demands will be tested by the ministry, he added.

One of the six victims who suffered serious burn injuries in a fire incident in Satkania upazila of Chattogram district died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Helal Uddin, 36, son of Abdus Shukur of Charpara in the upazila. Read: Moghbazar blast: Death toll climbs to 12 Helal along with his five family members suffered burn injuries in the fire incident  triggered by a cooking gas cylinder blast in their home in Satkania upazila on Thursday night. The other victims were identified as Sayed Ahmed, 65, Shahnewaz, 40, Khaleda Begum, 45, Abdus Shukkur, 36, and Delwar Hossain, 50. Read:2 killed in Chawkbazar transformer blast, 3 injured The injured were taken to Satkania Upazila Health Complex. Of them, four have been shifted to the burn unit of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital after their conditions deteriorated. On Friday, three of the victims were taken to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where Helal succumbed to his injuries around 9:45 on Saturday, said Satkania municipal panel mayor Saiful Alam Sohel.

A fire that broke out at a colour factory at Amulia Model Town in Banasree area in the capital was brought under control on Monday night after two hours of frantic effort.  

Moazzem Hossain Nannu, a crime reporter of Daily Jugantor and former secretary of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (Crab), who sustained burn injuries in a fire incident at his residence in the city’s Aftabnagar early Friday, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday morning. 

The High Court on Tuesday ordered United Hospital authorities to explain the reason behind the death of five people, who died in a fire at the hospital.