"Fire! Fire! Fire!" – the tragic cry echoes during incidents of fires, which claim lives and properties, and shatter the hopes and dreams of many families. Across the nation, people are reeling from the aftermath of devastating fires, with short circuits emerging as a primary culprit.
Duplicate cables and substandard electric items have pervaded the cable and electric industry, exacerbating the risk of short circuits. Numerous low-quality products, some imported from abroad, flood the market. Unscrupulous manufacturers resort to using old and inferior copper to produce cables bearing the logos of reputable companies, making it difficult for consumers to be sure of authenticity. These products, enticingly cheap, predominantly target customers from the poorer segment of the population, while deceitful traders reap hefty profits. Shockingly, these spurious products find their way into upper-class high-rise buildings, facilitated by electricians doubling as intermediaries in this illicit trade. Operated without authorisation or quality control, these dishonest businesses proliferate. They use shoddy and below-grade electric wires, significantly elevating the risk of short circuits and subsequent fires.
Fire experts emphasise that stringent monitoring of electric equipment standards by government agencies, empowered by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), could substantially mitigate fire hazards. Despite BSTI's efforts to curb the distribution of spurious goods, reports indicate that while 70-80 businesses are authorized to produce wires and cables, at least 100 unlicensed manufacturers flood the market with fake products.
Concentrated primarily in regions of the capital such as Bangshal, Wari, Kadamtali, Nawabpur, Siddikbazar, Jatrabari, Demra, and Keraniganj, these unlicensed manufacturers operate with impunity. Last year alone, in 2023, there were a staggering 27,624 fire incidents, with 9,813 attributed to short circuits, resulting in 102 fatalities. These alarming statistics underscore the dire consequences of such unscrupulous business practices on our lives.
The government and relevant authorities must intervene decisively in monitoring the cable and electric industry. Strict enforcement of regulations and laws is essential to halt the production of duplicate electrical items and eradicate the sale of counterfeit products by dishonest businessmen. Through concerted efforts, we can collectively reduce fire incidents and save human lives.
Abrar Hussain Khan Shagor
Student
North South University
Khansagor553@gmail.com