187 more fire stations to be set up: Adviser

"A special allocation would be made in the next budget for importing modern fire equipments and providing higher training to the firefighters," he said while inaugurating the Fire Service and Civil Defence Week-2007 at Fire Service and Civil Defence Training Complex at Mirpur in the city.

The adviser said to turn the firefighters into a modern and skilled force, the present government has taken initiatives to provide modern training to firefighters at home and abroad.

"So far, the number of warehouse inspectors has been increased to 50 from 27 and the government is actively considering to award 40 percent risk allowance to the firefighters so that they could be involved with more enthusiasm in this challenging job," the adviser said.

Tapan Chowdhury underscored the need for creating mass awareness about the origin of fire and the nature of fire to reduce the fire incidents.

The owners of the multistoried buildings should set up fire extinguishers and build fire exists in their establishments as part of their social responsibility, he observed.

Later, the adviser took salute of the smartly turned out Fire Service and Civil Defence contingent and witnessed mock demonstrations of different fire fighting units and other exercises.

Home Secretary Mohammad Abdul Karim and Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brig Gen Mohammad Rafiqur Rahman, Director (Administration and Finance) Major Asadul Haque, Director (Operation and Maintenance) Major Sheikh Shahjalal and Deputy Director Selim Newaj Bhuiyan were also present.