The number of hazardous buildings in both public and private sectors saw a fourfold rise in 2020 as compared to that of 2019 while the most hazardous buildings increased threefold, leaving hundreds of lives in jeopardy.
Experts have expressed grave concern over the inadequate and poor safety measures in the buildings as identified through the latest government inspections.
The inspections, numbering 7,344 conducted in 2020 by the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence Department (BFSCD), found 1,406 buildings vulnerable as compared to 329 in 2019.
Of the vulnerable buildings, the fire department found 231 establishments - both public and private - as the most hazardous ones.
Officials said the department hangs cautionary banners in front of a building that lacks adequate fire safety measures.
As part of its routine work, the department puts up banners to warn people about the fire risks and draw attention to the poor safety measures.
The establishments included multi-storied buildings, commercial complexes, markets, industrial units, shopping malls and educational institutions.
The fire service department, however, found 5,375 buildings with satisfactory safety measures.
The BFSCD launched the inspections as the concerned authorities and owners of establishments did not take any corrective measures, though they have been served with cautionary notices several times.
When contacted, Lt. Col. Zillur Rahman, Director (Operation & Maintenance) of the department, said the increased number of inspections in 2020 has helped identify the increased number of most hazardous and hazardous buildings.
Lack of knowledge about fire safety measures and higher prices of equipment are two other main reasons behind keeping the buildings unsafe, he told the FE.
He also pointed out that the engineers were recently passing out of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and such other technical universities without acquiring enough knowledge on fire-related issues due to their very short syllabus.
He informed that the fire service department has taken initiatives to amend some rules related to the Fire Prevention and Extinction Act 2003 to make its service easier.
He said most of the buildings were built before the Fire Prevention and Extinction Act 2003 was enacted. So, the buildings lack adequate fire safety measures, he added.
The buildings, built after enforcement of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2006 and enactment of the Fire Prevention and Extinction Act 2003, have satisfactory fire safety measures, Mr Rahman said.
Brig Gen (retd.) Ali Ahmed Khan, former director general (DG) of the BFSCD, who is also a disaster and emergency risk management specialist, said the number of buildings along with high-rise structures is increasing with full of electrical and electronic equipment, but the owners of the buildings remained indifferent in ensuring the fire safety measures due to lack of accountability.
There is a lack of coordination among the government agencies like RAJUK, city corporations and fire department which is hindering the process of ensuring fire safety measures, he said.
Mr Khan expressed frustration over the RAJUK's stance that there is no need to get fire safety certificates for more than 10-storey buildings.
Terming the lack of enforcement and safety wings of the department, he also highlighted the role of the concerned ministry in this regard.
There is a lack of accountability and that's why the building owners do not follow the existing laws, Mr Khan said.
A total of 21,073 fire incidents took place in the country last year, damaging properties worth over Tk 2.46 billion, according to an inspection report of the BFSCD.
The department also identified careless disposal of cigarettes as the third major cause of fire incidents in Bangladesh as it caused around 16.44 per cent of the fire incidents in 2020.
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