How long will these tragic deaths in fires continue?

In Bangladesh, people being burned to death in warehouses or factories has become a routine matter. The loss of hundreds of lives no longer leaves any mark on our minds! After people die in fires, when the government or political parties announce some compensation, we go to sleep in peace, thinking that something has been done. But almost every government has shown consistent negligence in finding a permanent solution to prevent such deaths. Last Tuesday, a fire at a garment factory in Mirpur, Dhaka, reportedly killed 16 people so far. The death toll is feared to rise further. Many are still missing, and the condition of several injured victims remains critical.

According to reports published by the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the Directorate General of Health Services, and the media, between January and October 2025, there have been roughly 25,000 to 27,000 fire incidents in Bangladesh. Around 2,000 people have died in these incidents. The financial losses amount to several thousand crore taka. No human life can be measured in money. Yet even after so many deaths, we do not know why the government remains so indifferent. There has been long-standing criticism over why garment factories and chemical warehouses continue to be set up in residential areas, but despite all that, the government has failed to stop it and must now give a clear explanation.

Most fire incidents in Bangladesh occur due to electrical short circuits, and in factories, the main cause of fire is from chemical warehouses. As recently as September, a fire at a chemical warehouse in Tongi, Gazipur, killed one person. Although the media reported that incident, it barely registered in the public mind. The deaths of 16 people this time have also not drawn much attention. The deaths of one, two, or even a dozen people in accidents seem to mean nothing in Bangladesh. Only when hundreds die, as in the Tazreen Fashions factory fire or the Nimtoli blaze, does some public outrage arise. But as soon as the flames are extinguished, the fire in the public conscience also dies down. Unless a larger disaster occurs, the discussion stops there. The people forget, and so does the government. Last year, when 46 people died in a fire in a multi-storey building on Bailey Road, there was a stir in civil society—mainly because some victims were from the middle and upper classes. This time, since the victims in the Mirpur warehouse and factory were from the working class, there has been less commotion. This too shows how deep our class divide still runs.

Each time a fire breaks out and people die, the administration says, “The culprits will be identified.” But over time, interest fades, and the investigation results are buried in dusty files. Firefighting systems, building codes, relocation of chemical warehouses—all exist only on paper, not in practice. The greed of businessmen, the negligence of authorities, and the disregard for public safety have together created a society perpetually burned by fire.

To change this reality, strict enforcement of laws is needed—punishment for irresponsible officials and increased public awareness. Blaming only the fire service will not do; accountability must be ensured in building approvals, chemical business licences, and restaurant safety measures. Unless the government investigates the causes behind such fires and takes timely action, these disasters will continue to rise. The government must take responsibility and act. There is only one question for the government—how many more people must burn to death before it wakes up? Will it still not take any effective action on this matter?