97pc Ctg high-rises at fire risk

Around 97 percent high-rise buildings in Chattogram city lack adequate fire safety measures, posing a serious risk of casualties in case of fire, reveals a survey conducted by the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The 2018 survey further revealed that 93 percent high-rises did not even take “no objection certificates” (NOC) from the fire service, said its officials.

Only seven percent owners took NOCs from the fire department and of those, three percent implemented fire safety measures, they added.

The buildings include commercial and residential establishments.

Reaz Uddin Bazar, Tamakumandi Lane Market, Jahur Hawkers' Market, Teri Bazar and Central Plaza, among others, were found “very risky”, said Jasim Uddin, assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Chattogram.

None of them have sufficient fire safety equipment, including fire extinguishers.

According to Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2006 and Fire prevention Act 2003, a market will have to keep sufficient fire extinguishers (an extinguisher for every 550 square feet) and sufficient staircases.

A market should have sufficient reserve water, a diesel pump, an electrical pump and a jockey pump, arrangement for emergency lighting, smoke and heat detector, fire alarm system and sprinkler. Also, it must have fire safety and evacuation plan, and emergency exists with smoke-proof stairwells.

“We have divided the city into eight zones to conduct the survey and came up with the findings,” Jasim Uddin said.

During a recent visit to Jahur Hawkers' Market and Tamakumandi Lane Market, this correspondent saw that the alleys were too narrow for fire fighting vehicles to enter in case of an emergency.

Asked, Fazlul Amin, organising secretary of Jahur Hawkers' Market Traders' Association, said they have received a notice from the fire service, and will hold an emergency meeting soon to discuss the matter.

Contacted, Ahmed Kabir Dulal, general secretary of Tamakumandi Lane Banik Samiti, said there are 110 markets in Tamakumandi Lane with over 40,000 shops.

“The market buildings were constructed without keeping enough space,” he said. “Now it has become difficult for us to implement fire safety measures in this vast area.”

Asked, Abdul Kaium Chowdhury, vice president of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, claimed that 80 percent of their members had complied with fire safety rules.

“The owners of most high-rises, who have been violating safety rules, are not our members,” he said, adding that it is the duty of the fire department to monitor fire safety measures at the buildings.

A total of 663 fire incidents occurred in Chattogram in 2017 while the number was 577 in 2018, said assistant director of fire service.

As per Fire Prevention Act 2003, designs of high-rises cannot be approved without a clearance from the fire service.

Asked, how 93 percent high-rises have been approved without NOCs, Shahinul Islam Khan, chief town planner of Chattogram Development Authority, evaded the question.

He, however, told The Daily Star that when they approve design of any building over six-storey, they impose a condition to receive NOC from the fire service.

“It is the responsibility of fire service officials to inspect whether under-construction buildings have provisions of fire safety,” he said.

According to Fire Prevention Rules 2014, if the number of residents remains between 50 and 500, there should be two emergency staircases in the building; if the number remains between 500 and 1,000, there should be three emergency staircases and if the number exceeds 1,000, there must be four emergency staircases.

There is also a provision of three years' imprisonment for violating the rules, said Abdul Mannan, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Chattogram.

Asked, whether anyone was jailed or fined for violating the law, Mannan said they had issued notices to owners in this regard. “We also try to motivate them to install fire safety equipment,” he said.