Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the architects and engineers to design a building keeping the point in mind of movement and operation of the fire service if needed. She expressed her dissatisfaction mentioning that, while building a high-rise building, ramps are often overlapped on footpaths. Engineers and architects are doing this. Even footpaths are being occupied. Many areas in Dhaka, there is no place left on footpath to facilitate walking safely. She expressed her concern for occupying footpath. The rich are constructing such huge buildings in Gulshan area, it is seen that cars have to be taken over the sidewalk. Why uses the sidewalk! From there you can leave some space.
Sheikh Hasina said that our development authorities, our architects and engineers should all keep in mind one thing, if you create any project then you have to make sure that the organization has modern fire-fighting system. In addition, if there is a fire, it is necessary to make sure that there is enough water to put out the fire. Reservoirs need to be conserved. It is not right to do everything by filling the box culvert or reservoir. That will be the case, where there was only a marshland or a lake, there is no water available to put out the fire in a building. Dhaka city, where there are many canals, beels and ponds. Bangladesh is a country like that. This should have been kept in mind before filling. Those who create projects in different ministries should see to it that there are facilities for the fire service. Their car, Their water supply system. Now there are many high-rise buildings. We now only have firefighting capabilities up to 20 floors. There I see someone sitting in a 30-storey building with various plans. Before that, you have to think about how far you can go if you have an accident. I think we should plan with that in mind. We are working to change the destiny of the people of Bangladesh. It is our responsibility to show their safety as well. In our country it is seen that launches or steamers are on fire. Such large vessels do not have much opportunity to extinguish their fire. If there is an accident here, how far is the ability to do rescue work. I think we should plan with that in mind. We are working to change the destiny of the people of Bangladesh. It is our responsibility to show their safety as well. In our country it is seen that launches or steamers are on fire. Such large vessels do not have much opportunity to extinguish their fire. If there is an accident here, how far is the ability to do rescue work. I think we should plan with that in mind. We are working to change the destiny of the people of Bangladesh. It is our responsibility to show their safety as well. In our country it is seen that launches or steamers are on fire. Such large vessels do not have much opportunity to extinguish their fire.
She said this in a program organized on Sunday morning. The Prime Minister inaugurated 40 newly constructed fire stations in 39 upazilas of 25 districts of 5 divisions by virtually joining Ganobhaban on the occasion.
Advising architects and engineers to keep open verandas on each floor of the building, the Prime Minister said a solid platform is needed to lift a man with a ladder. No one wants to leave an inch of space. If you rent merely counting square feet and money. This blindness for money puts people’s lives at risk.
The Prime Minister said when the fire broke out in Bashundhara Shopping Mall, there was no provision for extinguishing the fire. There was a canal where this shopping mall was in Panthapath. Connected with the river, boats used to come there. The area was a huge bil area. The bil area was filled and the canal was turned into culvert when Bashundhara caught fire; The building that was built inside the bil. There is no water supply to put out the fire in that building. Water had to be fetched from the swimming pool at Sonargaon. At that time there was only water supply up to 4th floor, till then there was ladder. Then we do not have different initiatives so that this institution is more beautifully built, modernized. Those who go to put out fires at different times, No one cared about their safety. We do not have the facility to buy equipment separately with instant money. We have taken various initiatives to keep it up to date. I decided that there must be a fee service station in every upazila. Besides, the people of our country need to be more aware.
The Prime Minister said an initiative has been taken to set up Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Fire Academy to train firefighters in a modern and international standard. She said the land has already been handed over. We are arranging training. Moreover, some firefighters have been trained abroad. We have trained more than 1 thousand officers and employees abroad to improve their professional skills.
“We had only 204 fire stations, and the population has grown to over 16 crores,” she said. With this in mind, we have taken initiative to build this institution in every upazila. Besides, fire stations will also be set up in special cases where there may be urgent need. At present we have 456 fire stations, today we are going to inaugurate 40 more. Another 55 will be made by next June.