Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tanvir Hossain said no chemical warehouses should remain in any residential area to fend off fatalities in any untoward fire incidents.
He made the statement while visiting a garment factory and chemical warehouse in Mirpur that caught fire claiming the lives of at least 16 people on Tuesday. “It’s clear just by looking that a chemical warehouse should not be next to a residential area,” the DC added.
“Whether this is a residential or commercial zone will be confirmed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). I urge the people to report such irregularities. We will launch joint drives if needed.”
Although the warehouse, known locally as Alam Chemical Factory, had been operating in the area for a long time, officials could not confirm what types of chemicals were stored or whether they were handled according to safety regulations, the DC noted.
He also stated that drives against illegal or unapproved chemical factories are going on and assured that the victims’ families will receive government assistance.
A probe committee will be formed by the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence to investigate the deadly fire incident, he added.
