Just days after an explosion that claimed at least seven lives, and injured 18, in Sitakunda, Chittagong, firefighters are now struggling to contain a massive fire that broke out in a cotton warehouse in the same upazila.
At what point does the administration witness the disturbing pattern of fires, explosions, and other forms of devastation taking place?
To be abundantly clear, such destruction is not unprecedented for us, especially our industrial areas. Lest we forget, last year, Sitakunda also underwent what is arguably one of the biggest industrial disasters we have witnessed in the history of our nation -- far too many lives were lost, and even more irreparably injured, in a fire that broke out at a private Inland Container Depot in Sitakunda.
Given the sheer frequency of industrial accidents that Sitakunda has been established to observe, it is high time that the government stepped in and investigated each and every factory, depot, and industrial area in this region to ensure that they are up to code.
Too many of our buildings in residential areas already function under a shroud of neglect -- as a Mirpur slum, which was filled with combustible substances and had a vulnerable gas connection, was found to be -- but the potential for death and destruction are increased manifold when proper code is not followed in industrial areas, dedicated spaces for equipment and substances considered dangerous.
We cannot skirt this issue any longer.
The administration needs to increase the frequency of inspections and ensure safety mechanisms are always in place when it comes to the operation of our industrial areas. The recent spate of fires and explosions need to be properly investigated and the culprits need to be brought to justice.
At the end of the day, this is all about accountability.
