Live Correspondent: As one after another fire disaster keeps engulfing our buildings, shopping malls to super markets - question automatically arise whether controlling fire accidents in Dhaka is going out of control? More often than not, a big scale fire incident generally turns out to be a wakeup call for all authorities concerned. It also offers an opportunity to work on safety flaws, promptly adopt remedial and preventive measures, so to prevent future accidents.  

But given the latest spree of intermittent fire tragedies erupting every now and then, it appears either we have turned too vulnerable or perhaps too familiarized to fire disasters. However, the extended part of Dhaka New Market also known as New Supermarket became the latest victim of inferno during the wee hours of Saturday - occurring just 11 days after the Bangabazar fire that gutted thousands of shops.

Fire Service and Civil Defence authorities reportedly came to know about the fire at around 5:40 AM and some 18 fire fighting units rushed to the spot immediately to bring the flames under control. Later on, 5 more units joined them but as the flames kept raging on, another 5 more units chipped in. The fire was finally brought under control by 9: 30 AM.

Once more scores of shops had been gutted and products worth millions went up in smoke. Though complimented with god almighty's blessings there was no loss of life, but at least 19 members of the fire fighting units fell sick from the heavy smoke as the fire fighters finally doused the massive blaze.

Interestingly enough, this time the Shop Owners Association president concerned has alleged that the fire broke out during the demolition of a steel-made foot-over bridge by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The workers paid no attention to the electricity lines there.

The fire originated when they bulldozed over the electricity lines. This unwelcoming repercussion happened, both due to their negligence and ignorance of the topic of fire safety.

If the allegation is proved out to be correct, the DSCC must shoulder much of the blame. At the same time, a strange but a common pattern of almost all fire incidents are that they are occurring anytime between midnight and the early morning hours when the shops are closed and market places are empty.

We believe it is time to strengthen safety monitoring and vigilance of all market places during these quiet hours when they have been left empty. In fact, the lesson should have been drawn a lot earlier from the recent Banga Bazaar inferno. On that note - it is important to introduce voluntary teams to guarantee constant monitoring round the clock.

In conclusion, we offer our profound thanks to all fire fighting stakeholders including BGB, Army, Navy and Air force members in efficiently handling the fire incident at New Supermarket. Not only had they capably tackled the crisis, but had also set a glaring example of prompt response and teamwork.

Dhaka, 17 April (campuslive24.com)//CM