Press Release
Dhaka, 14 March 2024: Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) voiced deep concern over the culture of evading responsibility by the authorities concerned in the wake of frequent fire incidents and subsequent tragic deaths. Underscoring the issues like political apathy, institutional inaction, lack of coordination, rampant corruption, and absence of accountability as the factors behind the fire tragedies, TIB called for ensuring exemplary punishment of those involved in negligence of duty as well as irregularities and corruption.
On 29 February 2024, a deadly fire broke out at a building in the capital’s Bailey Road area, resulting in the death of 46 persons. Following the incident, TIB Executive Director (ED) Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, in a press release, said, “The court has issued several directives to prevent fire incidents on different occasions, and the inquiry committees and taskforces formed after those incidents have also given many recommendations. However, most of these recommendations have not been implemented due to ineffectiveness, irresponsibility, lack of coordination and planning, irregularities and corruption of the regulatory and supervisory authorities as well as lack of accountability of the officials concerned.”
“On the other hand, after the fire incidents, the law-enforcement agencies, RAJUK, city corporations, fire service, and other organisations concerned are conducting raids as usual and arresting people, who are not directly involved with the incidents, without focusing on the root causes of the problem. As a result, the authorities concerned are able to evade their responsibility and hide the real culprits.”
Dr. Zaman further said, “The main reasons behind these recurring fire incidents and tragic loss of lives are non-compliance with the relevant laws in building construction as well as conducting unauthorised activities in the buildings by the owners. RAJUK, city corporations, and fire service, tasked with the responsibility of overseeing these matters, are aware of these irregularities. Some officials and employees of these institutions, through approval of defective buildings without proper supervision, are helping others to conduct risky business activities, thus leading to irregularities and corruption. As a result of this collusion, the real culprits are enjoying impunity.”
Earlier, in 2020, TIB conducted a research on the challenges of good governance in ensuring fire safety in Old Dhaka, following the deadly fire incidents of Nimtoli and Churihatta. The research revealed that despite repetition of tragic fire incidents, illegal chemical warehouses were established and their businesses were conducted in the residential areas - due to lack of political will as well as collusion among the traders, building owners, public representatives, and authorities concerned.
Mentioning that the experience and results of the research on fire incidents in Old Dhaka are relevant to the recent fire incidents, the TIB ED added, “Short, medium, and long-term plans should be adopted and implemented to stop recurrence of fire incidents effectively. Besides, the supervisory system should be strengthened immediately to control operation of commercial buildings and risky business activities in the residential areas. Tragic deaths in fire incidents have become a normal phenomenon for not ensuring exemplary punishments of the real culprits. This situation reflects a pathetic example of lack of value for the lives of ordinary people to the government and others concerned. TIB demands accountability and punitive actions against all quarters, involved in negligence of duty and corruption, without harassing innocent people.”
TIB also demanded providing due compensation to the fire victims and taking steps for their proper rehabilitation through bringing necessary changes to the relevant laws.
Media Contact:
Mohammad Tauhidul Islam
Director, Outreach and Communication
Mobile: 01713107868
Email: tauhidul@ti-bangladesh.org
