Most of hotels, restaurants, modern establishments, and 95 percent of small and medium factories in the greater Khulna area are at extreme fire danger. Although large establishments have a touch of modernity, there is no adequate fire safety system. There are considerable flaws in the construction design. For this reason, a total of 105 institutions including Bangladesh Bank, other banks, insurance, and Khulna Medical College Hospital are at risk of fire.
In addition, some 47 markets in Satkhira and Bagerhat, including the big market in Khulna city, have been listed as fire risk. Due to flaws in the construction of these institutions, it will not be possible for the fire service to extinguish the fire. The fire service has given 9-point advice to the institutions to keep them safe from fire.
According to sources, there are flaws in the design of 66 buildings in 11 residential areas of Khulna city. The same is true of half a hundred residential buildings in Satkhira and Bagerhat. There are also buildings that conduct commercial activities with the approval of the residents. Hotels, restaurants, hospitals, diagnostic centers, computer businesses, pharmaceutical businesses and various types of showrooms are running in these buildings without fire safety measures.
All these establishments are at a serious risk of fire due to various reasons including lack of adequate extinguishing systems, narrow lanes, and many shops in a small area. Traders fear major losses in these commercial centers in any small accident. Experts advise training traders and widening the narrow lanes. To mention, a fire broke out recently in a hardboard shop next to Delta Bhaban under Sonadanga police station. The shop was burnt to ashes in the fire. Recently, a terrible fire broke out in an umbrella manufacturing factory in Boro Mirzapur area of Khulna city.
It has been learnt that the fire first broke out in the godown of a multi-storey umbrella manufacturing factory called 'Rahman Umbrella Company' located in this densely populated area of the city.
In addition, a terrible fire in the Mujgunni area of Khalishpur in Khulna city burned down seven shops and two battery-powered auto-rickshaw garages in an instant. Some furniture of the Khalishpur Jamaat-e-Islami office was also damaged in the incident.
According to urban planners, there was no prior plan for these markets that were built in the city center. If the City Corporation, KDA, Electricity Department, Fire Service and WASA authorities do not take a new plan now, a big disaster is imminent.
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