A fast-moving deadly blaze, which morphed into an inferno, ripped through five buildings and claimed at least 67 lives at the old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar.
According to fire service, the fire was extremely difficult to control because of the flammable chemicals which were stored in several buildings.
Locals say, over 70 percent buildings in Chawkbazar have warehouses which store various products and chemicals.
“Even if I don’t rent my building for warehouses, I am not safe as the owner of my neighbouring building will rent it for storing products anyway,” Nuruddin, a resident of Chawbazar’s Debidas Ghat lane told Bangla Tribune on Friday (Feb 22).
“Basically many building owners find it hard to resist the temptation of hefty rent,” added Nuruddin.
Farid Uddin Faruk, another resident of Debidas lane also said that owners get a larger sum of rent if they rent units as warehouses.
“If you rent your flats for families, you will earn around Tk 20,000 to 25,000 per month and get a security deposit of Tk 50,000. On the other hand, you will earn Tk 50,000 each month when you rent your units as warehouse for which you get security money of Tk 100,000 to Tk 500,000,” he said .
A Bara Katra area resident, requesting to remain anonymous, admitted to housing product stores in his building and told Bangla Tribune, “This is a commercial area where warehouses are common.
“However, there is no one to monitor what kinds of products should be stored.”
Speaking about his building, he said, “I rented mine as plastic toy storage. I later found that the tenant also brought in body sprays and some other chemicals, which were transported and moved to the warehouse at night.”
Ariful Islam, a building owner at Hazi Ballu road, thinks relocating the chemical warehouses isn’t going to be an easy task.
“There are warehouses in over 70 percent buildings which make millions in profit. People tend to overlook the risks for money,” he said.
Ariful also said he believes if the administration is strict, no one can continue housing the warehouses.
Alleging that authorities receive bribe from some building owners, Ariful said, “They don’t want the chemical warehouses to move elsewhere in fear that their extra income will stop.”
Chawbazar’s Nanda Kumar lane resident Abdus Samad said, “If we want the issue to be resolved, the residents have to become aware first.”
He added that failure to do that will cause loss of many more lives.
Urging everyone to be aware of the risks associated with renting chemical warehouses, Samad said, “The building I am renting out for chemical warehouses is the same one where I live with my wife and children.”
It’s the building owners’ willingness and awareness, which is needed the most, added Samad.