The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has issued a trade licence to a chemical warehouse, marking the first approval for such a facility to shift from Old Dhaka to Shyampur after fires in Nimtoli and Churihatta.
The decision comes after a decade, making it the first trade permit granted to a chemical warehouse since the relocation.
The DSCC renewed the trade permit for the chemical company named M/S Royal Ton Lacquer Coating, considering its relocation to the warehouse constructed for the storage of chemical products on a temporary basis project in Shyampur, implemented by the Ministry of Industries.
The renewal was granted on February 28 after the company concerned applied for the permit following its shift to Shyampur.
DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Mizanur Rahman expressed gratitude to the relevant institutions for moving to Shyampur, emphasizing the importance of similar relocations for the overall safety of Old Dhaka.
Mizanur said: "The chemical warehouses constructed on a temporary basis in Shyampur have modern fire-fighting systems. Besides, the risk level is very low in the open environment."
He also mentioned that a project for the permanent relocation of chemical warehouses and institutions on 310 acres of land in Munshiganj is nearing completion.
Warning of actions against establishments that fail to relocate, Mizanur said: "If these chemical warehouses and establishments that pose a serious threat to public safety are not relocated, we will conduct operations against those establishments."
The initiative to relocate chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka began with the launch of the project for temporary storage in Shyampur on June 4, 2022. The move aims to create a business-friendly policy for the transfer of chemicals while ensuring safety.
DSCC stopped issuing new business permits for chemical warehouses in Old Dhaka in 2013 after the Nimtali fire and ceased renewing trade permits after the Churihatta fire in 2019.
In line with Cabinet directives, teams were formed to investigate chemical warehouses and establishments operating explosives, and a comprehensive list was submitted to the Cabinet in April 2021, providing details on 1,924 chemical warehouses in Old Dhaka, categorized by risk levels and types of chemicals stored.
