Urgent investigation, preventive measures needed to address repeated fire incidents

A wave of fire incidents in different parts of the country in recent days has caused widespread public alarm. It began last Tuesday (14 October) with a devastating fire at a chemical warehouse in Mirpur’s Rupnagar Shialbari area of the capital, killing 16 people. Then on Thursday (17 October), fires broke out at the warehouses of Adams Caps & Textile Ltd and Jihong Medical Company in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ). It took 17 hours to bring those fires under control. The very next incident occurred on Saturday (18 October) around 2:30pm, when a fire erupted at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. It took six hours to extinguish that blaze, and flight operations at the country’s main airport were temporarily suspended.

These incidents raise several questions. Why is Bangladesh’s fire-fighting system still so weak? Despite previous deadly fires in chemical factories that claimed hundreds of lives, why are such factories still located in residential areas? How can a fire break out in a supposedly high-security zone like the EPZ? Why does it take so long to control the flames? Although the latter two incidents caused no casualties, the damage was extensive. More importantly, the country’s international image has suffered. At a time when the government is working to attract foreign investors, the fire at the CEPZ is likely to undermine their confidence.

According to media reports, nearly 6,000 fire incidents—large and small—have occurred across the country in the past two and a half months, leaving around 100 people dead, including men, women, and children, and injuring over 200. The Fire Service and Civil Defence Department has identified 20 reasons behind the frequent fires, with negligence cited as the main cause. The weakness of Bangladesh’s fire safety system has been discussed many times before, yet no effective measures seem to have been taken. After every major fire, discussions resurface briefly, only to fade away once the flames are out and the ashes settle.

The recent spate of fires has raised further public suspicion. Law enforcement agencies are now investigating whether any of these incidents might be acts of sabotage. The government must not dismiss these as mere accidents caused by carelessness but should launch thorough investigations to uncover the true causes. Immediate and effective preventive action is essential. Fires not only destroy lives and property but also inflict serious damage on the country’s image and economy.