There are about 4,500 chemical traders in Old Dhaka, but recently, during an inspection, the businesses refused to accept plastic particles as flammable materials.

After the 2010 fire at Nimtali, the administration became alert and at the order of the prime minister, trade licence approval and renewal of all chemical factories were postponed from 2013.

However, removal of factories was not possible in the face of opposition from businesses.

Later, with continuous demand from traders, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) began renewing trade licences.

After the recent blaze at Chawkbazar’s Churihatta, the prime minister has ordered the removal of all chemical factories with the work already started by South City authorities.

However, traders have resisted the move because apart from flammable products, they refuse to accept that other materials are hazardous.

Meanwhile, DSCC asserts that some combustible materials remain in some form or the other in Old Dhaka.

Many traders feel that in the name of evicting chemical warehouses, they are being victimised.

DSCC’s Chief Revenue Officer Yusuf Ali Sardar told Bangla Tribune, “Around 1896 licences were issued for chemical factories and warehouses but after the Nimtali tragedy, we stopped renewal and handing out of new licences.

We are currently carrying out a drive to remove all flammable materials; in addition, gas, power and water lines are being cut off for warehouses found to be storing flammable materials.”

A trader in Chawkbazaar Hazi Shahjahan Ali told Bangla Tribune, “Our warehouses store plastic granules which are non-flammable. On Tuesday, traders protested during the drive, saying that they were being wrongfully evicted.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Dr Adil Muhammad Khan says, “No commercial operation should be permitted in residential areas, flammable or not, all items are chemicals.”