The Green Cozy Cottage fire on Bailey Road follows deadly blazes in Bangabazar, New Market, Krishi Market, and Mirpur last year, once again shining the spotlight on Dhaka’s long-standing building safety issues.
During the investigation into the Bailey Road fire, various stories of mismanagement have emerged. This time too, the restaurant and shopping centre businesses continued without a fire safety plan, without proper guidelines, with the permission of the office room from the building authority, Rajuk. Ignoring the three notices from the fire service, they continued their activities at leisure.
In September last year, the fire service wrote to the managing director of Ambrosia Restaurant and Music Cafe building for not having a fire safety plan. The matter was deemed dangerous, and a three-month notice was given. However, during that time, the building authority did not take action.
Not only this year, but before that, there was a fire in Bangabazar on April 4, 2023. Then, in 2019, Director General of Fire Service Jana sent at least 10 letters to traders declaring the Bangabazar market dangerous, along with notices and banners announcing the risk. But nothing worked.
On April 15, last year, a fire broke out at the capital's New Super Market. Earlier, the fire service had written to the owner association stating that the market was dangerous, yet no action was taken.
After that, the fire service officials highlighted similar issues in Krishi Market and the Mohakhali Khawa Tower fire. In light of such incidents, the fire service published a list of markets in Dhaka at risk of fire, visiting 58 markets and shopping malls in the capital. Out of these, 9 were declared high risk, 14 medium risk, and 35 low risk.
The question arises: despite multiple notices and warnings, why are the owners not being careful?
In this regard, Fire Service and Civil Defence Dhaka Division Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lieutenant Colonel Tajul Islam stated that the fire safety systems in the big buildings of Dhaka city are negligible.
“None of them comply. We can only inspect the buildings and send notices to the authorities. Rajuk can be written to, and the city corporation can be asked to take action, but no direct action can be taken by the fire service,” he said.
“Although licences can be cancelled and not granted if there is no proper management, without permission from Rajuk and related authorities for the use and construction of buildings without a fire service licence, this problem can persist. Efforts are being made, but everyone's cooperation is needed,” the fire service director added.
What is in the law?
To prevent fire accidents, especially after the collapse of Rana Plaza, the Fire Act has been made stricter with penalties and fines.
The law stipulates that any person failing to comply with any of the licence conditions shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six months and an additional fine.
If the violator is a company, then every director, manager, secretary, or any other responsible officer or agent of that company shall be deemed to be in breach of the provision, unless they can prove that the violation was committed without their knowledge or to prevent it.
If any person, in contravention of this Act or prescribed provisions, stores, processes, compacts, or sorts any inflammable material in any building or place, they shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and a fine, and such inflammable material may be confiscated by the government.
If any person uses any building or place as a warehouse or factory without being licenced, they shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and a further fine, and all goods in such building or place shall be confiscated.
If any person does or refrains from doing any act which amounts to disobeying any provision of this Act or any order or direction given under any provision, for which no separate penalty is prescribed, they shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and a fine.
Restaurants and shops operated illegally
In the case filed by the police at Ramna police station regarding this incident, the police claimed that the restaurant was illegally built in the Green Cozy Cottage building on Bailey Road by dealing with shop inspectors of Rajuk.
SI Mohammad Shahidul Islam filed the case with Ramna Model police station yesterday morning. According to the case, the restaurant was set up illegally in the building by managing shop inspectors of Rajuk. The business was being run using gas stoves and cylinders.
Ashraful Islam, Rajuk's city planner and director of detailed area planning (DAP) project, was contacted several times over the phone, but his number was switched off.
Meanwhile, according to Rajuk sources, a seven-member committee has been formed to investigate the fire incident at Bailey Road. The committee has been asked to submit the inquiry report within seven working days.
Rajuk Director (Administration) Momin Uddin said that the investigation committee would examine the design and approval process of the building that caught fire. Errors will be identified, and responsible persons will be identified in the letter.