Fire in Dhaka’s popular shopping mall Bashundhara City in 2009, Nimtali tragedy in 2010, Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, fire in Bashundhara City in 2016, Churihatta fire incident in 2019, terrible explosion in Sitakunda in Chittagong in 2022, science lab area in the capital in March 2023. The explosion, two days later the explosion in Gulistan’s Siddique Bazar, the tragic bus accident at Padma Setu, and the fire in Dhaka’s Bangabazar on 4th April, 2023. It does not stop here, on 8th April, 2023 a fire broke out in a shopping mall next to Bangabazar named Barisal Plaza. None of these are unknown to us and the recollection of those events can be called a kind of trauma.
Accidents are an inevitable part of human life. But if these accidents happen due to someone’s negligence or lack of awareness, then there is doubt whether they can be called accidents or not. Seven people died in a fire in Bashundhara City in 2009. In the same place in 2016, a fire incident happened again. In 2010, there was an explosion in a chemical combustible warehouse at Nimtoli in Old Dhaka of the capital and 124 people, including women and children, were killed in the fire from the explosion. And more than half a hundred were injured. Slums and factories are filled with it. In 2019, a 71-year-old man lost his life after a fire spread surrounding area from Waheed Mansion in Churihatta, Chawkbazar, Dhaka. Survivors of this horrific fire still shudder at the memory of that night. In the morning of 2013, a multi-storied building named Rana Plaza collapsed next to the Savar bus stand and some parts fell on a nearby building, killing 1,175 workers and injuring more than 2,000 people. It is considered the world’s third largest industrial accident in history.
In the last year, in 2022, a terrible fire happened in Chittagong. 49 people died in a fire and explosion at a container depot in Chittagong’s Sitakunda. The number of injured is more than 200 people. The people of the whole country mourned. A terrible explosion happened in March this year. This explosion happened in a building in the science lab area of Dhaka, three people were killed and the number of injured exceeded 30. Then came another terrible explosion in Siddiq Bazar near Gulistan in the capital Dhaka where at least 23 people were killed and the number of casualties was over a hundred. Again, 17 people died in the Padma Setu bus accident, and the number of injured was 30.
This destruction did not stop until March. Last April 04 at 6 am. The fire was reported at 45. 50 fire brigades worked together to put out the fire. With the efforts of the fire brigade, the army and the general public, the fire was finally extinguished after six hours. It is said that the seven-storied Enexco Tower at the north-west corner of Bangabazar, Mahanagar Complex Market on its eastern side was also burnt. Eight people, including three members of the fire service, were injured in the accident. As a result, the Eid market collapsed. Millions of people’s belongings including cash were burnt to ashes. The businessmen are standing on the road, losing everything in a moment. In their house, this Eid will not be happy, it will be a celebration of mourning. It doesn’t stop here either. On April 8, a fire was reported in a shopping mall (Barisal Plaza) near Bangabazar. The fire was brought under control very quickly though. But where is the safety!
If this kind of destruction continues, people will forget to dream, they will forget to dream. Who knows how many more lives will provide security. Man-made accidents are preventable. And the main cause of these accidents is the lack of awareness, either by the government or by the people. Whoever is at fault, all innocent people have to pay the price. When a person dies, not only he dies, but also the family’s dreams, future, plans, hopes. After how many mistakes this nation will learn, the calculation is still aimless. Because everyone is running after money. Rather than spending money, you can spend a few more years with the risk, with the expectation that some people may not be leaving the country in return, and the family is paying the price. So open your conscience and ensure your own safety.
Athar Noor |
