Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that the government could have built a well-decorated market at Bangabazar if there had been no obstacles.
“There was a fire at Bangabazar in 1995. Then, a fire broke out again in 2018. We undertook a well-planned project to build a market here. Then several people interrupted this plan. Not only a barrier, but they also filed a writ. Later, the High Court stayed the project following the writ.”
The premier made the statement after a cheque handover program for the repayment of a loan taken out for the construction of the Padma Bridge.
She said that if the plan had not been suspended at that time, there would be a well-organized market here. “Then such a terrible accident would not have happened.”
Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader handed over the cheque to the premier at her official residence, Ganabhaban.
Regarding an attack on the fire service when it was extinguishing the fire, she said: "The behaviour of some people in the country has angered me. Whenever there is a fire, the fire service goes there to douse it. Along with this, the army, navy, air force, Ansar and volunteers have been working since morning. After noon, a group of people entered the fire service compound with sticks and started vandalism.”
Sheikh said those who attacked and vandalized the fire service headquarters will be identified and action will be taken against them.
Describing the fire as a very tragic incident, Sheikh Hasina said the suffering and cries of so many trades ahead of Eid is too much to bear.
Assuring the affected traders of aid, Sheikh Hasina said: “I have already said that I will help them as much as I can and will monitor what kind of damage has been done.”
