Shudir Baran Mazi
In recent times, one after another fire incident has been creating anxiety and panic in the society. News headlines often include—“terrible fire in the capital”, “fire at the airport”, “loss of life in factory”, fire in school, fire in a multi-storey building in Chittagong, terrible fire in a factory in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ), terrible fire in a slum, market burnt to ashes, etc. Once these news were the exception; now they are like everyday occurrences. The question arises—are these mere accidents, or the result of a planned conspiracy, interests or motives? Fires are now a name of terror in urban life in Bangladesh. Recent incidents in various cities including the capital Dhaka have made clear the dire deficiency in the security system. No fire extinguishers, blocked emergency exits, tangled electrical wires, old connections, illegal stockpiling of chemicals—all of which have created a dangerous reality. After almost every major fire, the fire department says—“The fire was delayed due to narrow roads and lack of water.” Yet these problems remain unchanged year after year. Investigation committees are formed, but the reports are lost in the administrative vacuum. No exemplary action is taken against those responsible.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defense, there were more than 121,000 fires in the country between 2020 and 2024. Of these, investigations have shown that at least 990 fires were started intentionally—that is, due to revenge, hostility, or conflict. These incidents have claimed more than seven hundred lives and caused damage worth billions of taka. In 2024 alone, a total of 26,659 fires occurred in Bangladesh, in which 140 people were killed and 341 were injured—an average of about 73 per day. On February 29, 2024, a terrible fire at the “Kacchi Bhai” restaurant on Bailey Road in the capital killed 46 people. On the other hand, in April 2023, an explosion at a chemical godown in Siddiq Bazar, Gulistan, killed 24 people. Although investigation committees were later formed in both incidents, the final reports were not made public. A picture of terrible negligence is clear behind almost all the fires. Building owners are reluctant to build security systems because it is expensive. Supervisory agencies turn a blind eye due to bribery or influence. As a result, laws exist on paper, but in reality, irregularities run rampant. This risk, which accumulates over the years, one day burns people, dreams, lives, and families.
Not all fires are accidents. Behind many incidents, complex motives of economic and political interests work. Some deliberately set fires to collect insurance money; burn down old buildings to create opportunities for new projects or construction. When old markets or buildings “burn down,” opportunities for new construction arise, which is profitable for influential circles. In some places, fire is deliberately set to destroy corrupt documents or warehouses of illegal goods. In other places, it is a strategy to create chaos or create political pressure. All this proves that fire is not just an accident, but often it is a tool for planned self-interest, where one person's loss is transformed into another's gain.
After every major fire, an investigation committee is formed, but the report gets lost in the administrative loophole. There is no transparency, and those responsible are not punished. According to many experts, fires are now a “reflection of system failure.” When safety standards are not followed, laws are not enforced, and corruption becomes normal—then the line between accidents and planned incidents becomes blurred. We see that the results of the investigation of any fire that has occurred so far have not been published, and those involved have not been brought to justice. In this situation, it is natural for new fires to occur. BGMEA and BKMEA leaders warn that the recent series of fires in garment factories and airport areas have raised questions about the safety of the country's ready-made garment sector and economy. They have called for a quick reassessment of safety measures, modernization of fire control systems, and a long-term plan to restore the confidence of international buyers.
The same scene is seen after every fire - sympathy from political leaders, praise for firefighters, allocation of relief to the victims. But no structural change occurs. As a result, even after the fire is extinguished, the fire of the problem continues to burn. Now is the time for simultaneous initiatives of administrative accountability and citizen awareness to prevent fires. Fire safety approval should be made mandatory for every building, market and factory. Regular inspections and training must be ensured. Fire safety education and drills need to be introduced in schools, colleges, offices and factories. Fires are not only administrative failures, they are also a reflection of the negligence of society. Many of us do not know how to use fire extinguishers, do not check them regularly, and ignore gas or electrical faults. This ignorance invites accidents. Every incident of fire raises the question before us - do we really give importance to safety, or are we only stuck in the politics of mourning? Negligence, corruption and planned interests - all together, this fire is a reflection of the fire within our state and social system. This fire will not be extinguished with fire water alone; By building a culture of honesty, accountability and responsibility in the fire department. Whether planned or accidental - transparent investigation of every incident, exemplary punishment of the guilty and establishment of a safety culture are the demands of the time. Fire safety certificate is mandatory for every building/factory and the online registry should be made open to the public. Regular audits and fines - If the risk relief is not provided by the supervisory agencies, punitive measures should also be implemented. Investigation reports of every major fire should be published online and the penal code should be implemented within a specified time. Annual fire drills should be mandatory in schools, colleges, factories and markets. Tax exemptions or assistance can be provided for building security systems, so that building owners are encouraged to invest in security.

The writer is a teacher
Haimchar Government College, Chandpur
E-mail: shudir_chandpur@yahoo.com