A taskforce working under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has started removing chemical depots from Old Dhaka.
On Thursday, utility services in seven buildings were suspended in order to carry out the operation. The taskforce began their work around 10am and continued till 1pm.
They visited seven buildings in Islamabad on the first day. All the buildings either had warehouses or factories. None of the owners were found.
The operation was led by Chief Health Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Brigadier General Sharif Ahmed Khan.
He said: “In a meeting held on Wednesday, it was decided that chemicals will be removed from depots from two specific locations. On February 25, we used loudspeakers to instruct people to transport the chemicals from their warehouses to those locations.
“According to a previously-declared schedule, we launched the operation on Thursday. Till now, we have found warehouses in seven buildings.”
He said they did not find any of the owners.
“We have left them messages stating that the warehouses must be emptied before March 3 Sunday. We will be back on that day; if we still find the chemicals here, we will take legal action against them.”
The taskforce to remove the chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka areas was formed after a devastating fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar left 69 people dead and scores of others injured on February 20.
Local businessmen reportedly tried to halt the operation. However, they were forced to back-off due to the large number of law enforcers present at the spot.
President of Bangladesh Plastic Packaging, Roll Manufacturers Owners Association Abu Taleb was present at the scene.
He told the press: “This drive is not right. None of the 29 chemicals that are listed as flammable are present in these warehouses.
“They can remove the flammables, we do not mind that.”
The drive to remove chemical depots from Old Dhaka will go on for a month.
