Editorial
High-rises vulnerable to fire
Authorities must take steps before disaster strikes
We are shocked, but not surprised, at the extent of vulnerability to fire in Dhaka's high-rise buildings, that was recently revealed in a Daily Star investigative report.
For too long the danger of fire has been ignored by the authorities overseeing the building and maintenance of such high-rises, and as the recent fire at the Bashundhara City mall confirmed, we are living in unsafe conditions and that largely by default. If changes are not made immediately, a catastrophe is bound to occur, most likely sooner rather than later.
Fire safety has never been a priority when it comes to buildings in the city, and, as with earthquake safety, we are only just now recognising the dangers that are inherent to such negligence, and how vulnerable we are.
The problem is two-fold: the first is to create awareness of our vulnerability to fire and ensure that fire safety is part and parcel of the building code; the second is to make sure that all high-rise buildings are built according to code and that the necessary equipment, procedures, and personnel are in place to avert disaster.
The most distressing feature of the DS report was the revelation that what fire-fighting equipment existed in most high-rises was inadequate or out of date and that there was widespread ignorance when it came to fire safety procedures or how to operate the equipment in the event of a fire.
It is understood that fire safety costs money, but to ignore it is to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. It took catastrophe to bring home to us the vulnerability of garment factories to fire. Now we know that even the poshest buildings are not safe, either.
Ultimately, if we do not take the time to rectify this problem, then we will pay for it a hundred-fold in the cost of human lives and destruction of property.
The authorities need to make fire safety a priority. They need to ensure that buildings are up to scratch, and that once they are built that fire safety procedures are assiduously maintained. We cannot say now that we have not been warned as to the adverse consequences of inaction.
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