Publish : 28 Nov 2021, 01:38 AMUpdate : 28 Nov 2021, 01:38 AM
News of massive fires in slums have long become disturbingly frequent, with the latest one being the fire at a Tongi slum in which 500 homes have been burned down. While no casualties were reported, it did leave hundreds homeless.
This alarming trend of losing lives and homes to fires must end. According to figures by the Fire Service and Civil Defence, around 285,000 fire incidents were recorded between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2020, resulting in an estimated loss of around Tk6,900 crores. More importantly, at least 2,308 people were killed in fires across the country between 2004 and 2020 -- lives that should never have been lost in the first place.
Fire preparedness among the slum population -- and among the public in general -- can potentially prevent many fires. Basic fire dousing equipment and training will not only save lives but can stop the subsequent economic devastation that follows fire incidents.
In cases of slum fire, the victims face not only personal loss but also economic devastation. While the need for better fire safety is the bare minimum, it also lays bare the need for better and humane housing for the poor, who are forced to live in unhygienic, squalid conditions that prevail in the country’s slums.
To that end, we hope the authorities adopt a more hands-on approach toward the prevention of fire, as well as implement programs that will create better housing options for the poor.
ED: Up in flames
News of massive fires in slums have long become disturbingly frequent, with the latest one being the fire at a Tongi slum in which 500 homes have been burned down. While no casualties were reported, it did leave hundreds homeless.
This alarming trend of losing lives and homes to fires must end. According to figures by the Fire Service and Civil Defence, around 285,000 fire incidents were recorded between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2020, resulting in an estimated loss of around Tk6,900 crores. More importantly, at least 2,308 people were killed in fires across the country between 2004 and 2020 -- lives that should never have been lost in the first place.
Fire preparedness among the slum population -- and among the public in general -- can potentially prevent many fires. Basic fire dousing equipment and training will not only save lives but can stop the subsequent economic devastation that follows fire incidents.
In cases of slum fire, the victims face not only personal loss but also economic devastation. While the need for better fire safety is the bare minimum, it also lays bare the need for better and humane housing for the poor, who are forced to live in unhygienic, squalid conditions that prevail in the country’s slums.
To that end, we hope the authorities adopt a more hands-on approach toward the prevention of fire, as well as implement programs that will create better housing options for the poor.
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