Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam on Thursday said fire hydrants will be installed in every slum and market in the Dhaka North City Corporation area to mitigate the impact of fires.
The DNCC mayor announced it at the inaugural ceremony of an integrated community firefighting and water supply system.
Under this initiative, a fire hydrant was inaugurated at Mohakhali's Sattola slum.
Recalling the 2021 fire in the Sattola slum, Atiqul acknowledged the importance of fire hydrants in densely populated areas.
Dhaka Tribune"We previously could not install fire hydrants in our slums. I initiated the process with the Sattola slum, and this will gradually be extended to other slums," said Atiqul.
The mayor explained that the fire hydrant installed in the Sattola slum holds 60,000 litres of water, with 40,000 litres reserved for firefighting purposes and an additional 20,000 litres for household use.
He reassured residents that this volume would support at least 40 minutes of firefighting activity.
“In a clear situation, 40 minutes is sufficient for preventing major damage,” he remarked.
“Let the Sattola slum be a model for fire safety, with further installations in other slums and settlements planned in phases,” the mayor added.
He stressed the necessity of fire drills in residential areas and the need for trained volunteers who can operate the fire hydrants during emergencies.
"In this slum, we have trained 17 individuals who will teach others to use these facilities," he mentioned.
Explaining the fire safety measures in the new integrated community firefighting and water supply system, Mayor Atiqul stated: "Each fire hydrant system will include a hose pipe and 17 trained fire drill workers. A fire alarm will be activated immediately in case of fire, with clearly marked fire exits."
The mayor also ensured that all the market areas of the DNCC will have the necessary safety precautions, including fire hydrants.
Stating that authorities are also setting up an integrated fire extinguishing system at Mohakhali Kacha Bazar, the mayor said it would serve as a model for others, and based on its success, fire hydrants will be introduced at all markets under the DNCC.
Mayor Atiqul also expressed concern about the city's water scarcity during emergencies due to encroachment on canals and reservoirs.
He emphasized the need for preserving these natural resources and planting more trees to manage temperatures and provide recreation areas for children.
