Most of the old shopping malls in the capital are running without sufficient firefighting equipment, keeping life and property of owners, tenants and customers at a risk.
The Fire Protection Act, 2003 directs, all the buildings including the commercial establishments to have sufficient firefighting equipment and conform to measures of public security.
But, most of the old markets don’t have enough safety equipment, emergency exits and sufficient space between adjacent buildings.
Fire experts say according to the fire rules, every floor should have at least two fire extinguishers, hydrant point, water reservoir and a tank on top which will always contain a certain amount of water.
While visited Gausia Market, Chistia Market, Noor Mansion, New Chistia Market and Ismail Mansion (Gausia Markket in total), New Market and Yakub Super Market found no fire equipments (fire detector, alarm bell and fire extinguisher) in any floor of the market.
While asked about the fire safety, Joynul Abedin, joint secretary of Gausia Market shop owner association, he told that they have 20 fire extinguishers, 10 were brought on March 31 (While our correspondent visited the market office).
He also said “we have a big underground reserve tank which can contain 60 thousand liter water but we have no reserve tank on the top of the building.”
“If any fire incident will occur we can use this water” he added.
While asked that where those fire extinguishers were hanged or stored, “he told that the fire extinguishers were no hanged in market compound, it was stored at the guard room.”
He also said that security guards of the market will work as fire fighter if needed and every year Fire Service and Civil Defence arranged training for them.
“But we did not arrange any training for them” he said adding that “We have 484 shops in our Gausia Market (individual) and I think 20 fire extinguishers are enough for fire fighting”.
Shahidul Islam Liton, join secretary of New Chistia Market told that they also have 20 for extinguisher for 278 shops (Chistia Market).
He also said fire extinguishers were stored at guard room if needed we can use it.
While asked that the number of fire extinguisher is enough for your market, he said “I think its enough for our market and if I need more then we can use our neighbor markets fire equipments.”
Chan Mia, one of the shop owners of Gausia Market said the roads of the market are so small but the pressures of the consumer are high at this market.
The committee taking no measure for fire fighting and the fire extinguishers are stored at guard room, he added.
If any fire incidents occur how could we use those fire extinguishers? He posed a question to this correspondent.
Shihab, owner of Chistia market, said I do not know in there any equipment for fire fighting in our market.
I never seen any fire extinguisher in our Market, he added.
On February 20 in 2009, a devastating fire broke out on the ground floor of Madina Traders, a chemical shop at Yakub Super Market opposite to Gausia Market.
Before firefighters doused the flames, 56 shops were burned down, which is an example of neglect in taking fire safety measures.
While visiting Yakub Super Market on March 31 in 2011, found no fire equipments.
General Secretary of Yakub Supper Market shop owners association, Mahfuzur Rahman, said in our market portion we have no fire equipments but we in the upper portion (1st floor to 6th floor) where the garments are situated they have enough fire equipments.
“We are thinking to set up necessary equipment for fire in our market portion” he added.
Ratan Fakir, owner of MM collection of Yakub Super Market told that after the devastating fire the market committee did not take any measurement for fire.
Prof Dr Nizam Uddin Ahmed of Buet said most of the city markets especially old markets like Gausia don’t have fire safety measures, posing serious threat to the owners and customers.
Especially Gausia market is very dangerous while most of the customer is female and children on that market, he said adding that “While I visited the market last time I can’t see the road of the market for cloth, most of the shops keep their cloth outside the shop.”
While the garments owner seen that without satisfactory safety measurement on the factory buyer will not giving order. So that then they built an extra steel stair on the back portion, they did it because they don’t want to lose money, not for the workers interest, he said.
Prof Nizam also said Most of the commercial building built two stairs, but I must say two stairs is not the solution. Its needs to be defined on space, population and height and after that designer will design how many stairs will need for the building.
He said for commercial profit most of the building became danger, no one wanted to sacrifice a little space.
“If they build some extra stairs and open space by breaking some shop then the market can be impervious” he added.
He also said if any fire breaks out in such a building like Gausia, which have no alternative exits and are highly congested, 200 to 300 people may die.
Johurul Amin Mia, assistant director (wear house and prevention) of Fire Service and Civil Defence said “actually the market authorities have to take safety measurement by their own. We can help them by giving training and Mohora”.
“If any market authority applied for training, Mohora or any kind of help we instantly arrange it for them” he added.
