Risky chemical warehouses finally moving out of Old Dhaka

The relocation process of illegal chemical warehouses in the densely populated area of Old Dhaka have finally started. 

These chemical warehouses are responsible for several devastating fire incidents over the past years that claimed hundred of lives and caused mental trauma to thousands of survivors.

In the past 13 years, at least 300 people lost their lives in fires in illegal chemical warehouses and plastic factories in this residential area.

The Ministry of Industry and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have taken the initiatives following the long demand of local people. 

The decision to relocate the warehouses to less populated or commercial areas has brought relief to the local residents.

However, urban planners say that this initiative may fail if the businessmen are not encouraged.

Bangla Tribune

According to sources, two temporary warehouses have already been constructed in Tongi and Shyampur to relocate these old Dhaka depots.

Businessmen can directly do business by renting these places without any hassle. 

Apart from this, the work of the “BSIC Industrial Chemical Park” project, built on 310 acres of land in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, is almost at its final stage. The government will allocate land to businessmen to establish their business there.

According to DSCC sources, as per directives of the cabinet meeting, the agency started the survey work from December 20, 2020. 

At that time, DSCC found information on 1,924 chemical warehouses in tax zones three, four and five of South City.

The list also mentions the number of high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk warehouses and the names of the chemicals kept in these warehouses, considering the type of chemical and the level of risk.

File photo: Haji Wahed Mansion at Nandan Kumar Lane, in Chawkbazar's Churihatta area of Old Dhaka, engulfed in a massive fire on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

In this context, DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle NoorTaposh said: “Since the Churihatta fire incident, we have completely stopped issuing trade licenses. I have held a meeting with the Minister of Industry and Commerce about this. Now that the relocation process has started, residents are relieved. I want the policy to be business-friendly. Nothing should be done in such a way that the businessmen are affected.”

Additionally, 54 warehouses were constructed at Ujala Match Factory in Shyampur, Dhaka under BSCIC for temporary storage of dangerous chemical factories of existing legal traders.

Besides, the construction of two office buildings for the warehouses, the construction of an office building and mosque for BCIC, the construction of an underground water tank with a capacity of 100,000 gallons, the installation of two ETPs, the installation of automatic fire extinguishing system with nine fire hydrants abd 30 CC cameras, an overhead water tank with a capacity of 100,000 gallons, electrical substation-transformer-generator, roads, drains and boundary walls have been completed.

Aftermath of the Old Dhaka factory fire on Friday, December 11, 2020 Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

The total cost of this project is Tk71.44 crore.

BCIC officials say that the main objective of the project is to store chemicals in a safe place for the sake of public safety and to quickly transfer chemicals stored in Old Dhaka. 

Project Director Md Liaqat Ali said: "The construction of “BSCIC Industrial Chemical Park” on the banks of the Ichamati River to remove unsafe chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka is nearing completion. If it is running, all the chemicals in this area will be transferred there.”

Meanwhile, urban planners say that even if the government undertakes various projects, if the traders do not want to go there, then this initiative may fail. 

Fire fighters try to douse flames at Churihatta of Old Dhaka's Chawkbazar Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Urban planner and Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) Executive Director Prof Adil Mohammad Khan said: "It is a positive sign to remove these chemicals from the populated areas of Dhaka even though it's long overdue. However, the interests of businessmen should also be considered here. If they are not encouraged to shift through adequate cooperation, these initiatives will ultimately be of little consequence.”