Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the chemical businesses are reluctant to remove their warehouses from Old Dhaka.

“We wanted to relocate the chemical warehouses to Keraniganj,” she after visiting the Chawkbazar fire victims at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Saturday (Feb 23).

“We planned to build modern warehouses because these chemicals require special safety measures. However, the owners didn’t agree to relocate,” she added.

The prime minister said that she hoped that the Chawkbazar tragedy would serve as a lesson for the chemical businesses.

“I hope that those who earlier opposed to relocate warehouses from [crammed] Old Dhaka will not hesitate after the tragedy,” she said.

Blaming chemical warehouses for the deadly blaze, Hasina said, “We have removed several warehouses through mobile courts but those have sprung up again.”
Hasina also directed Dhaka South Mayor Sayeed Khokon to widen the Old Dhaka roads saying that the alleyways cannot accommodate fire service trucks in times of disasters.

“The narrow Old Dhaka roads need to be reconstructed,” she said

“The helicopters couldn’t properly sprinkle water due to the alleyways,” Hasina said before adding the choppers had to work from a safe distance so that the fire doesn’t worsen.

Taking a dig at the media, Hasina said reporters hindered the firefighters from doing their work by asking questions. “Was it an appropriate time to ask questions?”

On the insufficiency of water while dousing the fire, Hasina said that the many of the ponds at Old Dhaka had been filled up and that has led to the water crisis.

Hasina said national mourning for the Chawkbazar tragedy victims will be announced after consultation with the Cabinet on Sunday.