Fire hazard
Every week or month some fire accidents occur. Still no measures have been taken to protect the capital city. The small and big incidents of fire ought to serve as a wake-up call for our complacent authorities to check the city's haphazard growth and put in place an effective fire-fighting mechanism. A number of localities in the city areas like Rampura, Old Dhaka, Azimpur, Kamalapur and Nakhal Para, including all vulnerable slum areas, face a serious threat of fire disaster due to the presence of narrow roads and lanes and traffic congestion. Most of the market places in various parts of the city form another vulnerable area. Narrow lanes apart, the absence of sufficient fire-fighting facilities in the markets is bound to multiple the risk factor. Then, many of the shopping complexes, especially the old ones, hardly possess any fire-prevention mechanism. As shopping complexes attract huge crowds every day, any incident of fire could trigger a stampede and lead to catastrophic consequences. It is also doubtful how many of the high-rises sprouting everywhere in the city adhere to strict fire-prevention norms. Under the circumstances, the administration and other government authorities concerned would do well to realise the gravity of the situation and initiate remedial measures.
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