A total of 217 shops in Krishi Market were engulfed in flames during the fire that broke out in the Mohammadpur area of the capital on Thursday morning.
Initially, there were 343 shops allocated to the Dhaka North City Corporation, but it has been acknowledged by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Chief Executive Officer Selim Reza that there were unauthorized shops on the sidewalks and in the vicinity.
Selim Reza emphasized that after the fire outbreak, all agencies worked in close coordination with the fire service to mitigate the severity of the blaze.
Efforts are being made to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future. The shortage of water during the fire prompted the fire service to source water from the Japan Garden City swimming pool and other nearby buildings.
The chief executive officer stated that the Dhaka North City Corporation is compiling a list of affected businessmen and is working on a comprehensive plan to enhance fire safety in the city.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to safety measures and mentioned that instructions have been provided by the Prime Minister's Office since the fire incident occurred.
Regarding the illegal shops situated on the sidewalks, Selim Reza clarified that the allocated shops were inside the market. The fire service had previously indicated inadequate fire safety measures within the market.
The city corporation had directed the market authorities to enforce these safety measures, and multiple instructions were given to market associations. Non-compliance with these instructions has contributed to such incidents, according to the chief executive officer.
Arifur Rahman, president of Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners Association, pointed out the presence of CCTV cameras in the market but noted that the footage was not currently available.
He expressed concern about the frequency of fires in various markets and the timing of such incidents in the morning and at night, raising questions about their causes.
Arifur Rahman stated that while it is too early to determine whether the fires were planned or accidental, it is crucial to conduct a thorough investigation to assess the losses suffered by affected businessmen.
He called for government support to help the affected businesses recover. Mohammadpur Krishi Market is known for offering goods at low profit margins, and the business leader estimated losses of around Tk300 crore.
Additionally, the Dhaka district administration has formed a five-member investigation committee and has instructed them to submit their report within five working days.
