fire service and civil defence
Fire on launch in Dhaka’s Shyambazar Terminal under control
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.
7 months ago
Banani slum fire under control
The fire which broke out at Godown slum in Dhaka’s Banani area has been brought under control.
The fire started at the slum around 4:05 pm on Sunday and engulfed it, said Talha bin Jasim, station officer of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD).
TK Group’s super board manufacturing factory catches fire in Munshiganj
On information, six firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control around 5:33 pm.
A team of Bangladesh Army also joined with the fire service teams, said a press release of ISPR.
Fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar; chemical warehouse burnt down
However, the origin of the fire and extent of damages could not be ascertained yet.
8 months ago
TK Group’s super board manufacturing factory catches fire in Munshiganj
A fire broke out in a super board manufacturing factory of TK Group in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj on Sunday (March 24, 2024) afternoon.
Talhan Bin Zasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD-media cell) headquarters, said the fire began in the board factory in Jamaldi area around 1: 10 pm.
Read more: Fire at 18-storey building in Dhaka’s Gulshan doused
On information, ten firefighting units rushed to the spot and were trying to tame the flame, he said.
The origin of the fire could not be known immediately, he added.
Read more: Fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar; chemical warehouse burnt down
8 months ago
A city of fire traps: Decades of tragedies in Dhaka expose systemic failures
In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the history of fire incidents stretches back decades, with each tragedy laying bare the systemic failures of monitoring and enforcement by the authorities.
The recurrence of these incidents, resulting in loss of lives and property, highlights a persistent cycle of negligence and a lack of proper supervision by the concerned agencies, including the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and the Fire Service and Civil Defence.
This pattern was tragically underscored by the recent blaze at a building housing several restaurants on Bailey Road, which claimed 46 lives, marking yet another dark chapter in Dhaka’s ongoing saga of preventable disasters.
The Bailey Road catastrophe is not an isolated incident but a continuation of Dhaka’s grim legacy of fire tragedies. Experts point to a systemic lack of accountability and supervision, with buildings across the capital flouting fire safety norms and regulations.
Read more: Firefighters faced difficulties dousing fire at Krishi Market due to overcrowding: Fire Service Director
The construction of these structures often violates directives from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, lacking essential fire prevention measures such as alarms, adequate water supplies, and fire extinguishing systems.
The result is a cityscape riddled with potential fire traps, posing a constant threat to its inhabitants.
Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), asserted that the frequent fires could be significantly reduced if the authorities took decisive action against those responsible for the lax approval and supervision of building constructions, and against building owners who neglect fire safety standards.
Dr. Khan emphasised that accountability must extend to RAJUK, the building owners, and even the tenants who, fully aware of the risks, continue to occupy these unsafe spaces.
Bailey Road Fire: 4 inc. Kacchi Bhai’s manager remanded for two days
The recurrence of fire incidents is further compounded by the failure to follow up on investigations after each tragedy. Dhaka has borne witness to several catastrophic fires, including those at Nimtoli, Churihatta, FR Tower, Armanitola, New Market, Moghbazar, and the latest disaster at Bailey Road. These incidents share common threads: mismanagement, the utilisation of risky multi-storied buildings, and a glaring lack of proper supervision, with many buildings operating without the requisite approvals from RAJUK and other regulatory bodies.
Despite repeated pledges from various quarters to transform Dhaka into a risk-free city, these promises have largely gone unfulfilled. Each tragic fire fades from public memory, only to be replaced by the next, in a seemingly endless cycle of devastation. This cycle is exacerbated by the mixed use of residential and commercial buildings, which Dr. Khan identified as a critical risk factor propelling the capital towards further disaster.
An example of this perilous overlap is the Green Cozy Cottage Building on Bailey Road. Despite approvals specifying that only the ground through fourth floors could be used commercially, with the fifth and sixth floors designated for residential purposes, the building predominantly housed restaurants, a clear breach of urban planning and building laws.
Dr. Khan advocated for treating such egregious violations, like the Bailey Road fire, as criminal acts, attributing them to the negligence of RAJUK and other service agencies.
Read more: Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings
The aftermath of the Bailey Road tragedy has seen calls for comprehensive measures, including the online registration of buildings with detailed usage information, and the public display of notices issued by the government against non-compliant building owners.
Ashraful Islam, the project director of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of RAJUK, clarified that the Bailey Road building was authorized only for office use, not for restaurants and showrooms, underscoring the illegal operations that contributed to the tragedy.
9 months ago
Mirpur’s Jhilpar slum catches fire
A fire broke out in Jhilpar slum of Mirpur-12 in Dhaka on Monday (February 19, 2024) afternoon.
Lima Khanam, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters media cell, said the fire started from one of the shanties of the slum around 12:57 pm.
Fire damages foam factory on Char Patharghata
On information, four fighting units rushed to the spot and were trying to bring the flame under control and then four more units joined them.
The origin of the blaze is yet to be known, the duty officer said, adding that there is no report of casualties till 1:30 pm.
Read more: 50 shanties gutted in Begunbari slum fire
9 months ago
5 vehicles torched in 24 hrs till this morning
At least five arson attacks were recorded in 24 hours till 6 am today, ahead of the 24-hour blockade called by BNP.
Netherlands Ambassador inaugurates demonstration on farming initiative
Of these, one vehicle torched in Dhaka city, two in Gazipur, one in Bagerhat and one in Sirajganj district, said Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell.
3 Bangladeshi workers dead as warehouse collapses in Malaysia
Eight firefighting units and 42 members of the fire service were engaged in dousing the flames.
So far, 228 vehicles have been set on fire during the blockades and hartal from October 28 to November 29, according to fire service headquarters.
Bangladesh among 5 countries selected for project to strengthen preparedness to COVID-19, other infectious diseases
1 year ago
Fire breaks out at Biddyut Bhaban basement in Dhaka
A fire broke out in the basement of Biddyut Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.
RMG workers block Dhaka's Mirpur-10 intersection
Two fire service units were working to douse the fire at the time of filing this report.
The fire broke out around 3:42 pm.
WHO SEARO Director election: Momen thanks India, other countries for supporting Saima Wazed
The reason behind the fire is yet to be known, said, Ershad Hossain, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence.
World Bank approves $210 million for early childhood development
1 year ago
Dhaka's New Supermarket fire finally doused after 27 hours
The massive fire at New Supermarket, next to Dhaka New Market, was finally doused this morning (April 16, 2023)- around 27 hours after it started and burnt down several shops and establishments during this busy Eid shopping season.
Lima Khanom, duty officer (control room) of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters said the flame was finally doused around 9 am today.
Earlier yesterday, the fire broke out at around 5:40 am.
Read more: Fire at Dhaka’s New Supermarket now under control
A total of 28 firefighting units and teams of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force took part in the effort to douse the fire. The fire was brought under control around 9:10 am yesterday.
Some 32 people, including firefighters, fell sick from the heavy smoke while firefighters were trying to douse the blaze.
On April 4 morning, a massive fire broke out at Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka, burning several thousand shops to ashes. A total of six adjacent markets were also burnt.
Read More: Fire safety system of New Supermarket was very weak: Fire Service
The fire was doused on April 7, over 75 hours after it broke out.
1 year ago
2 burnt in AC blast at Dhaka’s Niketan area
Two people sustained severe burn injuries in an air conditioner (AC) blast in an apartment at Dhaka’s Niketan area early this morning (March 4, 2023).
The injured are 28-year-old Gopal Mollick and 20-year-old Mizanur Rahman.
Rashed Bin Khalid, a duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, said the AC might have exploded from an electric short-circuit, on the fifth floor of the six-storey building on road 6 in Niketan around 6:15 am, leaving the duo critically injured.
Read more: Gas explosions took 82 lives in 3 years in Narayanganj, threats remain: Police, fire service
On information, three firefighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire around 6:53 am, he said.
The injured were sent to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, he said.
1 year ago
4 dwelling houses, 2 shops gutted in Barishal fire
Four dwelling houses and two shops were gutted in a fire in Bangabandhu Colony of the district’s Chadmari on Tuesday night.
Fortunately, no one sustained injuries in the fire that erupted around 7.30pm.
Mizanur Rahman, joint director of Fire Service and Civil Defence department in Barishal, said on information seven firefighting units responded to the fire and tamed it within an half hour.
Read more: Shoe factory catches fire in Ctg
Lives of over 500 residents of the colony were saved from the fire due to an immediate response from the life-saving force, he said, adding that the reason behind the blaze could not be known instantly.
Three to four houses were also damaged when the fire was being doused, he said.
Some of the residents namely Nur Jamaddar, Khalil Hawlader and Bazlu alleged that their opponents set the fire to their colony in a planned way.
District Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Hossain has already visited the spot and assured the victims of providing assistance.
1 year ago