HC forms high-level probe body over Bailey Road fire

The High Court has formed a high-level probe committee to investigate the fire incident at a restaurant on Bailey Road.

An HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Haque passed the order on Monday, responding to two separate writ petitions.

Secretary for Home will lead the probe committee while the other members of the committee include representatives from police, RAJUK, fire service, BUET specialists, Dhaka South and North City Corporations.

The committee has been asked to submit its reports in the next four months. It will also recommend the steps to prevent fire in the city buildings.

The HC also ordered Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha to set up signboards on vulnerable buildings in Dhaka so that people can be aware of the risks when entering them.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain as to why their failure to set up fire exits in the Bailey Road building should not be declared illegal.

Earlier, Supreme Court Lawyer Eunus Ali in his petition sought an HC directive upon the government to close restaurants and business operations in all the residential buildings in Dhaka.

He also submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC, also appealing to the court to order authorities concerned of the government to form a judicial committee in order to investigate the incident.
The relevant laws do not allow any commercial activities in the residential buildings, the petitioner said.