Staff Correspondent

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibur Rahman has urged the owners of commercial and residential buildings to ensure safety for mitigating the risk of fire.

“We need collective efforts to ensure fire safety. The building code must be followed during the construction work. Along with the government, it is important for entrepreneurs to be aware of it,” Mohibur Rahman said while addressing a discussion at Dhaka Club as chief guest on Friday.

The Electronics Safety and Security Association of Bangladesh (ESSAB) organised the discussion on fire risk and future planning.

The statement also mentioned that the disaster and relief ministry will soon discuss with the concerned parties.

FBCCI Senior Vice-President Amin Helaly and Fire Service Operations Director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury were special guests while ESSAB President Niaz Ali Chisty chaired the session.

In his speech, Amin Helaly said that the economy of Bangladesh progressed to $450 billion from $80 billion over the last decade. The time has come to acquire our competence in the field of fire safety. Builders must follow the rules. Ensuring fire safety in commercial buildings has become imperative for sustainable economic development.

ESSAB President urged all to encourage people to use modern fire protection equipment in residential and commercial buildings.

“Human being is responsible for 95 percent of fires. We need a national task force under the leadership of FBCCI,” he said.

ESSAB Secretary General Zakir Uddin Ahmed, Fire Service former director general Ali Ahmed Kaiser, FBCCI Vice-President Rashadul Hossain Chowdhury, Dhaka University Prof Zillur Rahman, BUET Prof Ishtiaque Ahmed and Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association President Helal Uddin were also present on the occasion.