Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), on Sunday, has blamed lack of political will and absence of coordination, accountability and justice as some of the vital reasons behind the recurrence of the chemical warehouse fire in Old Dhaka’s Armanitola area.
It has also called for speedy implementation of the temporary warehouse projects and permanent chemical village projects by the government and compulsory relocation of all chemical businesses from residential areas including Old Dhaka.
Expressing its utter disappointment over the horrific fire, which killed four people and left 17 others injured on Friday, TIB in a statement insists that a vested quarter has set up chemical and combustible warehouses, factories and businesses in residential areas through collusion, irregularities, and corruption.
The TIB also lamented that due to lack of coordination and accountability of the concerned government agencies, most of the recommendations by the investigation committee and task force were not implemented even after 11 years of the Nimtoli tragedy, which claimed the lives of 124 people.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, TIB in the statement said no lesson was taken from Chawkbazar's Churihatta devastating fire incident, which took place on February 20 in 2019 leaving 71 people dead, and also the Nimtoli tragedy.
He also demanded identifying risky and illegal factories and relocating them with short-term leave as an interim measure as chemical trade is prohibited in residential areas.
The anti-graft watchdog agency also urged the government to pay adequate compensation and rehabilitate the affected families of Churihatta, Nimtoli and Armanitola fire incidents.
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