State Minister for power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Sunday stressed the need for a new, updated, modern and time-befitting LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) as the use of the gas has increased manifolds. “The consumption of LGP has increased to 1.45 million metric tons (MTs) from 60,000 MTs in 2009”, he said adding that now the gas is being used in different sectors including houses, motor vehicles and industries. He was addressing a workshop on “Safe Use of LPG in Hotel and Restaurants”, organised by Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) at TCB Bhaban in the city. Need to inspire young generation with ideology of Bangabandhu to build a Smart Bangladesh: Nasrul Hamid BERC chairman Nurul Amin presided over the workshop, attended by different stakeholders including representatives of LPG operators. He asked the energy regulator to accommodate the opinions of the stakeholders while preparing a new policy for the LPG. “But make it sure all the LPG users are abiding by the rules, regulations and policies of the government in using the product,” he told the BERC. He observed that most of accidents involving LPG are taking place due leakages in gas cylinders. Bangabandhu showed prudence through purchasing 5 gas fields from British company: Nasrul Hamid In this case, he said, every government agencies like Rajuk, LPG operators and energy regulators, have the responsibility to monitor if the safety instructions are being followed or not. “Rajuk has to give approval to building plans after checking whether LPG lines are properly designed or not,” he said. He said the LPG cylinders get leaked due to mishandling by operators, dealers, sub-dealers and sellers. “Actually, LPG cylinders reach to customers through rounding five to six hands from an operator and they are not careful in handing those”, he said. The workshop was also addressed by new energy secretary Nurul Alam, president of Bangladesh Hotel & Restaurant Owners Association Imran Chowdhury, Daudur Rahman Khan of Omera petroleum, Liakat Ali of JMI LPG Ltd while Prof Masud Helali of Buet made a presentation at the workshop. People have to remain united against forces opposing development: Nasrul Hamid Imran Chowdhury alleged that the BERC invited them in the workshop, but they were not given any chance to place their opinion although they are the main stakeholders in the issue of the workshop. Daudur Rahman Khan of Omera petroleum said that hotel and restaurant operators are not using extra safety mechanism. Cylinders are stored at unsafe places, he said. Some operators are using CNG for cooking purpose which is dangerous and food courts should use single line for LPG, he said.  

The risk of fire hazard is increasing by the day as buildings as tall as 10-12 storeys are being built without adhering to the Building Code while ignoring fire safety plans in all the urban centres across the country, including Dhaka. The construction of high-rise buildings right next to narrower roads increases the risks resulting from a fire, since it restricts the access of fire service vehicles with heavy equipment in the event of an emergency, leading to more casualties and destruction. Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan, the executive director of the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) said, “The construction and use of multi-storied buildings are  going on in defiance of building regulations and fire safety rules across the country including Dhaka. And these infrastructures are failing to guarantee security for human lives in the event of various disasters, including fire.” The high-rise structures around the country lack proper arrangement of extinguishing systems such as stairs and exit paths, fire elevators, fire doors, fire detectors, fire sprinklers, fire suppression systems etc. Those buildings without basic fire safety plans are being used for commercial and other purposes without any type of occupancy certificate, Adil said. Bangladesh needs to establish a building regulatory authority immediately to effectively enforce the national Building Code, adding that this is the only way to ensure proper standards and fire safety in the construction of high-rise buildings across the country, he said. Concern is growing among people after a fire at a high-rise building in Gulshan that killed at least two people and injured many others, very close to the fourth anniversary of the Churihatta fire tragedy in Old Dhaka that claimed the lives of 71 people in 2019. Also Read: Gas explosions took 82 lives in 3 years in Narayanganj, threats remain: Police, fire service The horrific fire incident in the multi-storey residential building in Gulshan again brought to the fore the issue of the weaknesses of the internal fire safety system of buildings and the weakness of overall planning, preparation, surveillance and enforcement of laws in urban areas against the fear of loss of life and extensive damage due to fire in urban areas, said Adil. “To ensure fire and disaster safety in cities, it is necessary to hold developers and building owners accountable as well as all city agencies including development authorities accountable,” he added. Currently, seven-storey buildings are considered as multi-storey buildings as per the existing fire safety laws in Bangladesh. However, in the Building Construction Rules, 2008, and the Bangladesh National Building Code, 2020, 10-storey buildings are considered as multi-storey buildings. So, the fire risk is very high in many buildings above seven floors. Citing the necessity of a proper investigation into why the authorities have failed to implement the recommendations of inquiry committees formed into past urban disasters including fire incidents, the IPD official said, “We believe that although there are policies to give priority to the safety of people’s lives in the city, recommendations are not being fully implemented due to invisible reasons.” Also Read: Fire Safety in Apartments: Causes and Prevention Due to the massive loss of life in the recent terrible earthquake in Turkey-Syria, the issues of our lack of preparedness to deal with disasters, including earthquakes, have been strongly discussed. Analysis of why we have not been able to implement the recommendations of inquiry committees formed into past urban disasters including fires is very important. Brigadier General Md. Main Uddin, Director General of Fire Service Directorate, told UNB that everyone wants to build a building, but no one wants to spend money on security. “Invest in security. We need to increase our capacity. Fire safety plan will be implemented. Investment should be made in creating awareness about fire safety from childhood. This should be taught in the curriculum. Training centers should be developed on fire safety.” He also said to implement the fire safety plan conditions adopted at the time of construction of each building. Before issuing the occupancy certificate of the building, the opinion of the Fire Service should be taken on whether the fire safety conditions are complied with and a hydrant system should be installed across the city, he said, adding that if the building is constructed with fire safety, the risk will be less. According to preliminary findings after the Gulshan fire incident on Sunday, the owners of the 13-storey residential building had received a no-objection certificate from the Fire Service during construction. Also Read: Workplace Fire Safety: 12 Effective Ways to Prevent Fire Hazards However, they had not received an approved fire safety plan that is required under the Fire Prevention Act. Rajuk Chairman Anishur Rahman Mia told UNB that no building is allowed to be constructed without fire safety. Even with the permission to construct a building from Rajuk, many people do not follow the building rules, as a result of which the damage is more in case of fire accident. He also said, “We have continued operations from Rajuk in this regard. Our monitoring system will be strengthened. Fire safety must be ensured in the buildings that will be constructed from now on after approval from Rajuk.”      

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) signed an agreement Wednesday to enhance workplace safety and healthcare facilities in ten priority economic sectors. They will conduct several capacity-building and promotional activities at institutional and enterprise levels. These activities will be supported by ILO's RMG programme funded by Canada and the Netherlands, according to a media statement. Under the agreement, 15 safety units will be set up in electronic and electrical, chemical, plastic, light engineering, leather, food processing, furniture, printing and packaging, domestic apparel and steel rerolling industries. Simultaneously, 2,400 safety representatives and 100 safety committees will be developed to improve awareness and capacity on workplace safety and health among employers and workers. ILO Bangladesh Country Director Tuomo Poutiainen said: "We are pleased to join forces with the FBCCI to promote safety culture and practices in priority industries." "We hope that our collective efforts will help prevent many occupational accidents, injuries and diseases and save countless lives." FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin said: "Ensuring the safety of workers is our utmost priority. We have teamed up with the ILO to invest in strong and functional safety units, safety committees and safety representatives." "Strengthening workplace safety and health at institutional and enterprise levels will make our factories safer and more productive which will benefit the national economy." Also read: BIDA, ILO sign deal to streamline one-stop service for investors

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday directed the police force to grow as the last resort of the people who come to them seeking protection for their lives and dignity.   “In our country, the police will also have to acquire public confidence so the people think the force as their last resort in protecting their lives and dignity. The people can get their shelter,” she said, joining a function of Bangladesh Police through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban. In the function, the premier opened five projects of Bangladesh Police, including two newly constructed police stations –Padma Setu Uttar Thana and Padma Setu Dakkhin Thana—on the two sides of the much-desired Padma Bridge. PM Hasina also asked the police to stay vigilant against different social diseases and crimes to maintain a peaceful environment in the country. Noting that the police drive against militancy and terrorism has been a success, she said the drive should continue. She said police is playing a significant role to check drug abuse, cybercrimes, money laundering, spreading rumours, human trafficking and other offenses, which are very harmful to the people and the country. “You’ll have to stay vigilant always in this regard,” she said, asking them to pay special attention to prevent such crimes in the society. Referring to recent communal incidents the PM said the police played an excellent role in thwarting bid to destroy communal harmony, intercepted the perpetrators promptly and showed their excellent efficiency. READ: PM opens two police stations on both sides of Padma Bridge “We want peace in our country. If a peaceful situation prevails, we'll be able to make economic development,” she said. Talking about the global food crisis, she renewed her call not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated to attain food autarky in the country and prevent the brunt of the world economic meltdown. She said the prices of essentials and the inflation rate are on rise creating instability throughout the world. “So, we’ll have to remain alert,” she added. Among projects inaugurated today are 12 newly constructed district-level police hospitals, six women barracks for Bangladesh Police, the online GD (general diary) activities to reach the services to the doorstep of the people, and the distribution of 120 houses constructed in the second phase for homeless families. As part of the government's initiative to construct separate barracks for female members of Police in 64 districts, the six barracks have been constructed. With the newly constructed 120 abodes, the Police have so far provided a total of 520 houses for the homeless families. The two modern police stations were set up at Mawa side and Jajira side of the country's longest 6.15-km Padma Bridge in order to ensure security to the multipurpose rail-road bridge and its users alongside maintaining the law and order in the surrounding areas. The premier will open the iconic Padma Bridge on June 25 next. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Md Akhter Hossain and Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed spoke at the function from Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital.   Besides, the participants including police members and beneficiaries attended it virtually from Rajarbagh Police Lines, Padma Bridge North Police Station in Munshiganj, KMP Women Barrack in Khulna, Mymensingh Police Hospital and Pirojpur Police Lines.

With the rapid increase in the number of vehicles, mostly cars, in the congested roads of Bangladesh cities, there has been a steady rise in the number of accidents too. As many as 543 people, including 81 children, were killed and 612 others injured in 427 road accidents in April, Road Safety Foundation said its latest report, released on Saturday. The non-government organisation said 206 lives were lost in 189 motorcycle accidents, which is 37.93% of the total deaths. Also, 116 pedestrians and 87 drivers and their assistants were killed in March accidents. READ: World Bank okays $358 million fund to improve road safety in Bangladesh On the other hand, accidents on waterways claimed at least eight lives while 23 were killed and five injured in train accidents across Bangladesh last month. Road Safety Foundation based its findings on the reports of seven national dailies, five online news portals and electronic media.

As ready-made garments (RMG) is Bangladesh’s largest export sector, speakers at a program called for establishing safety committees at all garment factories to ensure occupational health and safety of the workers. The function titled “Commemorating Rana Plaza Tragedy: Present OSH Situation in the RMG Sector and Way Forward” was organised by the Solidarity Center-Bangladesh Office at Hotel Asia, Paltan in the city under its USAID’s Workers’ Empowerment and Participation (WEP) Activity to commemorate the Rana Plaza Tragedy.  The speakers said that it has been 9 long years since the worst tragedy in the RMG sector in the country. Still there is a long way to go in terms of improving the health and safety conditions in the factories. Addressing the function Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Labor and Employment Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan said: “We have the responsibility of finding the weaknesses of Safety Committees and resolving them accordingly”. There cannot be any negligence in their work nor corruption”, she said adding, the stakeholders have to identify the needs of Rana Plaza victims and assist them accordingly. Advocate AKM Nasim, Country Program Director, Solidarity Center, Bangladesh Office, said after the Rana Plaza tragedy, Accord, Alliance and now the RSC are working for a safer workplace. “We have advanced a lot but still how much the safety committees in factories are able to function is a question. Worker representatives should be allowed to play a stronger role in Safety Committees”, he said. Advocate Nazrul Islam, Program Officer at the Solidarity Center in his presentation highlighted that research needs to be conducted on weaknesses and challenges and how to make Safety Committees functional. He added that it is extremely vital to build the capacity of the members of Safety Committee on Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) through training, orientation, learning visits, etc. READ: Speakers call for ensuring functional Safety Committees at RMG factories Professor Dr. Jakir Hossain said that institutional and legal framework should be strengthened to prevent any accidents from occurring in the future. Nazma Yesmin, Director at BILS said that the injured victims should be given long term medical treatment and health care facilities. Salauddin Shapon, President of Bangladesh Revolutionary Garment Workers Federation (BRGWF) said that there were a lot of actions taken to overcome safety issues in the past few years but now the development has become stagnant. If a case is filed against employers, the workers have to wait for years before any progress is made. When a complaint was made to the Accord, it was addressed very quickly but any complaint submitted to the RSC takes months to be resolved”, he said. Participants called for improving building and fire safety for the workers and introducing trade union and Safety Committee in all the garment factories. Advocate A.K.M. Nasim, Country Program Director of the Solidarity Center, Salauddin Shapon, President of Bangladesh Revolutionary Garment Workers Federation, Dr. Jakir Hossain, Professor at Institute of Bangladesh Studies, Rajshahi University, Nazma Yesmin, Director at BILS and Advocate Md. Borkot Ali, Deputy Director (Legal) of BLAST spoke at the event. Representatives from USAID, ILO, SKOP, NCCWE, Sajeda Foundation, BLF, Labor Court Bar were also present in the event.

Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed on Thursday directed the field level police officers to ensure safe movement of the people going home to celebrate the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festival. “The safety of the people has to be ensured through coordination within each unit of the police,” the police chief said addressing virtually at meeting of senior police officers and specialized unit officials at police headquarters. The IGP directed the police officers to build an adequate security system through beat policing and community policing. Also read: Saidpur rail workshop racing to meet targets ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr He also asked the police members to follow the instructions of the government in using social media. He directed the specialized naval, industrial, highway and tourist police units to take adequate security measures in their respective jurisdictions on the occasion of Eid. During the meeting, AIG (Operations) Mohammad Ehsan Sattar placed security issues related to the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Fitr, shopping malls, banks and financial institutions, bus and launch terminals, and railway stations, Eid Jamaat and leisure center-centric security as well as traffic management and overall law and order.At the meeting, it was decided to deploy women and white-clothes police along with uniformed police in shopping malls, banks and financial institutions.Decisions of providing escorts for large financial transactions or money transfers were also taken at the meeting. The meeting also decided to ensure the security of the country's main Eid Jamaat, including the National Eidgah. Also read: BIWTA to construct another ghat in Zajira to ease Eid travel Passengers have been asked not to travel on the roofs of buses and trains and on boats at the risk of their lives. Additional IG Md. Moinur Rahman Chowdhury, Additional IG M Khurshid Hossain, DIG YM Belalur Rahman, DIG Md Haider Ali Khan and concerned officials were present at the meeting.

The Boilers Bill, 2022 was passed in Parliament on Sunday aiming to check boiler-related accidents and ensure safer work environment in industries by constructing and using standard boilers there. Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun moved the bill in the House which was passed by voice vote. The bill will replace the Boiler Act, 1923. As per the Bill, if anyone operates boilers without taking prior permission will face maximum two years of imprisonment or maximum fine of Tk 200,000 or both. For building boilers without prior permission, the punishment will be the same. One has to take license for repairing boiler, its violation is punishable. The punishment is maximum two years imprisonment or maximum Tk 200,000 fine or both. READ: JS passes Bangladesh Patents Bill, 2022 For tempering the license of any boiler, the punishment is maximum two years imprisonment or maximum Tk 200,000 fine or both.  For transferring or handing over boiler to another person, the punishment is maximum one year imprisonment or maximum Tk 100,000 fine or both. After any boiler accident, the user has to inform it to the  authorities concerned immediately. For failure, the user will face maximum two years of imprisonment or maximum Tk 200,000 fine or both.

A data scientist who was revealed Sunday as the Facebook whistleblower says that whenever there was a conflict between the public good and what benefited the company, the social media giant would choose its own interests. Frances Haugen was identified in a “60 Minutes” interview Sunday as the woman who anonymously filed complaints with federal law enforcement that the company's own research shows how it magnifies hate and misinformation. Haugen, who worked at Google and Pinterest before joining Facebook in 2019, said she had asked to work in an area of the company that fights misinformation, since she lost a friend to online conspiracy theories. “Facebook, over and over again, has shown it chooses profit over safety,” she said. Haugen, who will testify before Congress this week, said she hopes that by coming forward the government will put regulations in place to govern the company's activities. She said Facebook prematurely turned off safeguards designed to thwart misinformation and rabble rousing after Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump last year, alleging that contributed to the deadly Jan. 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol. READ: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram suffer worldwide outage Post-election, the company dissolved a unit on civic integrity where she had been working, which Haugen said was the moment she realized “I don't trust that they're willing to actually invest what needs to be invested to keep Facebook from being dangerous.” At issue are algorithms that govern what shows up on users' news feeds, and how they favor hateful content. Haugen said a 2018 change to the content flow contributed to more divisiveness and ill will in a network ostensibly created to bring people closer together. Despite the enmity that the new algorithms were feeding, Facebook found that they helped keep people coming back — a pattern that helped the Menlo Park, California, social media giant sell more of the digital ads that generate most of its advertising. Facebook’s annual revenue has more than doubled from $56 billion in 2018 to a projected $119 billion this year, based on the estimates of analysts surveyed by FactSet. Meanwhile, the company’s market value has soared from $375 billion at the end of 2018 to nearly $1 trillion now.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on leaders and adults everywhere to do everything possible to enable the youth to enjoy lives of safety, dignity and opportunity and contribute to the fullest of their great potential.