ED: Another fire that should have been prevented

Before we have had the chance to properly recuperate from the vicious Rupganj factory fire that broke out just over a month ago, another fire incident has been reported -- this time in the capital’s Banani area.

Although the cause of the fire has not been officially stated yet, most fire incidents of recent times can be chalked up to buildings not being up to code or insufficient fire safety measures. And yet, aside from the fleeting conversations taking place around the time-lines of such fatal events, we have not seen any measures to permanently curb these issues being implemented.

At this point, we have fallen into a vicious and seemingly inescapable cycle of fires breaking out, being blamed on the same issues each time, trade licenses being revoked, and then being returned after a period in which said businesses are expected to follow through with rectifying measures. There is little subsequent follow-up, and even fewer plans to identify and deal with similar fire hazards that are scattered throughout the city.

It is imperative now that the authorities concerned get to the bottom of these recurring crises. Time after time, workers and the general populace seem to be losing their lives in these deathtraps, and still no satisfactory measure is taken to hold the owners of these buildings and businesses, as well as other responsible parties, accountable. Curbing this culture of impunity and strictly imposing mandatory fire safety measures are of the utmost priority now.