Housing and Public Works Minister, SM Rezaul Karim, has announced that, the capital’s development , Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) will begin a thorough inspection of buildings across Dhaka city from Sunday.
He said, Rajuk will also check whether the building code was followed during construction, and if they have proper fire suppression systems installed.
He made the announcement, after visiting the scene,, of a devastating fire that gutted over 200 shops in the kitchen market, adjacent to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Market in Gulshan 1, on Saturday.
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“Buildings found to have violated regulations will be identified within 15 days. All activities in those buildings will be suspended, and structures will be sealed if necessary, until those violations are resolved,” said Rezaul.
His announcement, however, came a day after, DNCC Mayor, Atiqul Islam, asked owners of high-rise buildings in the city, to submit all documents relating to building safety, within 10 days.
On Friday, Atiqul said, building owners, especially those of high-rise ones, must submit all the fire safety and building safety clearance certificates within 10 days. Meanwhile, magistrates will conduct a drive and take legal action against those who fail to ensure fire and building safety measures.
Minister Rezaul, on Saturday, also warned that, those behind the building code violations, including owners, developers and even Rajuk officials, would face tough actions.
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Responding to a query, he said: “The government will provide all possible assistance to those who suffered losses in the fire. We are sympathetic to those who had been victimized by this incident, and we take all disasters seriously.”
Adding that, the DNCC kitchen market was not built in a planned way, the minister pointed out: “The traders took it upon themselves to build this market, so the electrical connection and other facilities did not meet proper safety standards.
Also Read- Mayor Atiqul: DNCC market lacked fire suppression system
“We are making a serious effort, to turn the unplanned areas in the city, into properly planned and regulated neighbourhoods.”
The fire, at the kitchen market, in Gulshan 1, had broken out around 5:28am and was completely doused around 9:30am, but not before the flames had completely destroyed 291 shops.
Fortunately, there were no casualties.
On Thursday, a deadly fire in the 23-storey FR Tower at Banani had killed 26 people.