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. 

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. 

Fire hazards and explosions may occur unexpectedly and lead to devastating losses of human lives and structures. In recent years, such mishaps have increased significantly. It is crucial to understand the general causes of fire hazards, to reduce the risk and take preventive measures. Let’s explore some of the most common causes of explosions and fires in residential, commercial, and industrial spaces.  5 Major Sources of Indoor Explosions and Fires Hazards  Gas leaks  Gas leaks are one of the most common causes of explosions in Bangladesh. This can happen due to faulty gas pipelines, poorly maintained gas appliances, or improper gas connections.  Electrical faults  Electrical faults such as short circuits, overloaded circuits, or faulty wiring can lead to explosions. This can happen when electrical appliances are used improperly or when they are not maintained properly.  Read More: Gas explosion at residential, commercial buildings: Common causes and ways to prevent them Chemical explosions  Chemical explosions can occur in commercial spaces where chemicals are stored or used. This can happen due to improper storage or handling of chemicals, or when incompatible chemicals are stored together. Pressure vessel explosions  Pressure vessel explosions can occur in industrial settings where high-pressure vessels are used. This can happen due to improper maintenance, overpressure, or corrosion. 

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.”      

At least 10 Covid patients were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a coronavirus hospital in the Indian city of Mumbai in the small hours of Friday, officials said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently in Bangladesh on a two-day state visit, said that he was "pained by the loss of lives". "I pray that the injured recover soon," he tweeted from Dhaka. Also read: Fire in residential building kills 5 in India The fire started at the first floor of Dreams Mall in Mumbai's Bhandup area and soon engulfed Sunrise Hospital on the fourth floor. At least 22 fire tenders were pressed into service but it took them several hours to contain the blaze. All the Covid patients, except 10, on ventilator support have been rescued and shifted to other Covid hospitals, a fire officer told the media. Local TV channels beamed footage of the charred bodies being pulled out of the mall. Also read: 10 newborns die in hospital fire in India's Maharashtra Chief Minister of the western state of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, visited the hospital later in the day and sought forgiveness from the families of the victims. "The firefighters did a great job in rescuing people. However, some who were on ventilators could not be rescued. I seek forgiveness from their families," Thackeray told reporters after visiting the spot. The Chief Minister has also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the victims. Read Fire in India’s Andra Pradesh kills 7 patients The hospital, the Chief Minister said, had been set up to deal with the increasing cases of Covid infections in the city. "We have been fighting against the coronavirus for the past year. When the pandemic hit the state, there were very few beds and ventilators, but we continued our fight and set up temporary hospitals. This hospital was temporarily allowed to treat coronavirus patients," he said. Referring to preliminary reports, he said that the fire started at a shop in the mall. "I want to assure you that whoever is at fault... they will be punished." Also read:Battery factory collapses in fire in new delhi, injuring 14