Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Saturday vented his frustration in the parliament regarding the loss of lives in the fire on Bailey Road in the capital.
Blaming the government for the incident, he said that the government needs to be held accountable as it is the responsibility of the government to ensure people's safety.
During an impromptu discussion in the National Parliament on Saturday, Chunnu expressed his grievances. At the onset of the parliamentary session, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury expressed profound sorrow over the loss of life in the Bailey Road fire, seeking solace for the departed souls.
Chunnu, who is also the opposition chief whip, said: "The citizens of our nation contribute through taxes to sustain the government. It is the responsibility of the government to provide security to the citizens. Construction of buildings requires permission from six agencies of the government, there is no monitoring after granting them permission.”
He further elaborated: "Rajuk officials live in various areas, yet their effectiveness is questionable. Buildings are often repurposed without proper authorization. Who shall be held accountable in the event of such tragedies? The onus lies on the government, its agencies, and offices."
Drawing attention to the many unauthorized establishments across Dhaka, he said: "Numerous restaurants operate within single buildings, flouting regulations in areas such as Satmasjid Road in Dhanmondi. Similar violations are rampant in multi-story buildings in Khilgaon. Without swift intervention and accountability, such incidents are poised to recur."
Former minister SM Rezaul Karim took part in the discussion as well.
Referring to past incidents such as the FR Tower fire in Banani and the factory fire in Narayanganj, he said: "After the fire, we investigated and implicated 62 individuals, but despite a high-level committee's findings, not all were prosecuted. Furthermore, many were omitted from the chargesheet. To date, the chargesheet for that case remains unresolved."
Rezaul Karim continued: "My demand is clear: those involved in such crimes must face prosecution, even if it requires legal reforms or the establishment of special tribunals. We identified 1,300 buildings with unauthorized floors, yet the Ministry of Housing and Public Works failed to address this issue. This impunity cannot continue."