Deadlier accidents than the one at Old Dhaka can occur if steps are not taken to remove the illegal chemical business in the area, said Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Ali Ahmed Khan.
“The incident is very unfortunate; this area is densely populated which hindered ease of movement of our fire men and equipment,” he said on Thursday (Feb 21).
“But we brought the fire under control with help from locals,” he added.
Previously, after survey, we recommended the removal of chemical factories from the area but if the trade is done secretly then fire department has nothing to do, lamented the DG.
Unless steps are taken immediately, bigger mishaps can occur, he warned.
“When the fire broke out, there was a jam on the road preventing people from running to safety,” he observed.
Alluding to locals he said that the fire may have started when a gas cylinder of a pick-up exploded.
“Since the area was littered with flammable material, the fire spread quickly,” he said
The DG underlined the necessity of safety awareness among common people to avert such disasters.
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