A public enquiry should be held to ascertain the causes of Thursday’s roof collapse at a cement factory in Mongla which killed at least seven people and injured dozens more.
This type of loss of human life is almost always avoidable, but is sadly all too frequent. It is concerning that at the time the fire service closed rescue operations, the managers of the building were unable to properly confirm how many workers had been present at the site.
Major reforms must be undertaken to reduce the unacceptably high accident rates faced by the public in all aspects of life.
A culture of ensuring full compliance with safety regulations needs to be fostered across society. Authorities and businesses must be made to be more vigilant in guarding against risks and in ensuring better systems are in place to protect and save lives.
The finding published last month by an expert committee looking into the sinking of the Pinak 6, that none of the 73 ferries operating on the Mawa-Kawrakandi route should be regarded as fit for carrying passengers, gives an indication of the scale of the task at hand.
Making mandatory insurance requirements tougher for all businesses and transport operators should be part of a nationwide move towards improving safety standards.
Insurance companies have an incentive to ensure buildings and vessels are better maintained and operated. Experience shows that they can be very effective in reinforcing safety laws and ensuring authorities properly enforce standards. This benefits everyone by preventing accidents. It is a cost-effective way to help prioritise public safety.
