Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj

A fire hazard inspection has begun. Special attention should be given to the buildings in Nayamati, a well-known hosiery business area in Narayanganj district headquarters. The allways are narrow, and the buildings are constructed tightly packed against each other. If an accident occurs, the Nayamati area could turn into a massacre.

According to fabric traders in the Gulshan Cinema Hall alley, there is a severe water shortage in Nayamati. Residents struggle to get enough drinking and bathing water, let alone firefighting water.

A pillar hydrant system, similar to Kolkata’s, is needed. Most markets in the area lack water reservoirs, and fire service vehicles cannot enter due to the narrow roads. Overhead electrical wires create further obstructions, preventing even mini-trucks from accessing the inner streets.

Nayamati, along with Tanbazar and Nitaiganj, was once a well-planned area but has now become overcrowded with dilapidated buildings and streets too narrow for two medium-sized vehicles to pass at the same time.

Many chemical warehouses and factories have sprung up along the alleys, even inside residential buildings. These unregulated and hazardous storage facilities pose an extreme fire risk, like ticking time bombs that could cause a major disaster at any moment.

In April 2023, a fire broke out in Nayamati during the Eid holidays. The fire started in a pile of garbage between two buildings due to a discarded cigarette butt. Though it was a small incident, residents fear that if it had gone unnoticed, the flames could have engulfed the entire area.

According to Fazal Hossain, a printing business owner, thousands of people use the alleyways connecting Nayamati to markets like Gulshan Cinema, Sonar Bangla Market, Borshon Super Market, Green Super Market, and Fozor Ali Tower. Since the buildings are built too close together, a single fire incident could turn the entire area into a disaster zone.

Street food vendor Yasin Mia expressed concern over rising temperatures and frequent small fires in the area. He mentioned that market workers often have to extinguish fires themselves using buckets of water. Shockingly, most shops do not keep fire extinguishers, making the situation even riskier.

Nayamati is classified as a fire hazard red zone, yet most buildings have no fire safety measures. Fire service inspectors have begun checking the buildings, and owners without fire licenses could face fines or even up to six years in prison. Despite repeated warnings, building owners have ignored fire safety regulations, leading to a highly congested and dangerous environment. In the past, most buildings in the area were 3-4 stories high, but now 7-8 story buildings are common.

Alhaj Badiuzzaman Badu, President of the Bangladesh Hosiery Association, explained that the fire department has been using alternative routes to provide emergency services in Nayamati for years. Fire trucks enter through Karim Market and extend hoses to reach fires. Another route is through Loyal Tank Road, where vehicles navigate to the rear of Nayamati Akhra before deploying hoses. However, most buildings lack water reservoirs, and there is no dedicated water source in the area. In the past, a large pond near Narayanganj Sadar Police Station served as a water supply, but it was filled in the 1990s.

During peak hours, even two rickshaws cannot pass each other in the narrow streets of Nayamati. If a pushcart enters, it causes immediate gridlock. Due to this congestion, many business owners prefer walking to their shops, leaving their private cars parked outside the area. If a fire breaks out, fire trucks cannot enter directly and must rely on alternative routes.

Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defense Deputy Assistant Director Abdullah Al Arefin stated that inspections of high-risk markets will begin soon. Fire safety enforcement is crucial, especially with the rising temperatures. Inspections were delayed due to Ramadan and Eid, but operations will resume once the weather cools slightly. Previous assessments have identified high-risk markets, and the list will be updated. The Narayanganj City Corporation will also be notified.

After the devastating fire in Bangabazar, authorities are taking fire safety more seriously. However, Arefin noted that many business owners and building owners in Nayamati and Tanbazar have ignored previous fire service notices, increasing the risk of a major disaster.