Building fire: the narrative of negligence and irresponsibility

In yet another building fire incident in Dhaka, over 46 people lost their lives. According to the details given by the newspapers and electronic media thus far, the story is the same old one with similar causes and circumstances. There was the habitual carelessness on the part of building owners, restaurant managers, and relevant government agencies. However, this time it was not a garment factory, so the owners of the factory cannot hold the western retailers and consumers responsible for paying them so low that they could not take factory level safety measures. The owners and managers of this specific building and restaurant will not be able to place the blame elsewhere or obtain resources and expertise from abroad to address the issue, like what the garment industry accomplished quite admirably a few years ago.
In a rapidly industrialising nation like Bangladesh, where the government has little control or oversight over its enormous and growing number of high-rise buildings and commercial enterprises housed in those structures. These have started, grown, and have been operating mostly on their own and in an unplanned manner; explosions and fires are not unusual occurrences. Restaurants and hotels in particular have not been abiding by the regulations or upholding safety standards. Regrettably, Bangladesh's dismal track record for building safety is consistent with this most recent incident of avoidable human-caused disaster.
Owners of businesses and buildings in Bangladesh are typically regarded as being indifferent to current laws and regulations and as being heedless, callous, and irresponsible toward their patrons and occupants.
Could this man-made disaster have happened at all if the Fire Department, Rajuk, City Corporation, Public Works and so many other departments had been proactive, sincere, capable, operational, and alert? Did these government organisations act in a way that was responsible, to say the least?
Common causes of fires are the combination of fuel and an ignition source, such as volatile flammable liquids used close to an open flame. These incidents are typically the result of ignorant, negligent, or irresponsible human behaviour. The majority of restaurant employees in these improvised spaces are not trained in fire safety. Every restaurant and other high-risk establishments need to regularly take stock of the different materials and products they use, store them according to their quantity and properties, and rank them according to the risk of flammability.
Fuel, an ignition source, and a way to combine the two in an area with air or an oxidizer are all necessary for a fire. Reducing fuel loads, eliminating ignition sources, or cutting off the fuel/ignition contact are strategies that can lower the number of fires, fatalities, and injuries caused by people.
Preventing a fire is far less expensive and easier than putting it out once it has started. Fire prevention in Bangladesh's garment industry has been primarily promoted and enforced by European and North American retailers with government backing. Nevertheless, the hospitality industry, which includes restaurants and hotels, has not yet adopted any comparable policies, programmes or practices.
Changing human behaviour is always necessary to prevent fires. Regular fire safety education is necessary for this, and restaurant and hotel management must support it. It should be conducted using updated training manuals, standards, and other educational resources. These strategies are supported by legislation in many countries, where businesses are required to adhere to fire safety rules as part of their duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees at work. Regretfully, the millions of workers employed in Bangladesh's informal sector-which accounts for the majority of the country's GDP-have not benefited from advancements made in the formal sector, especially its garment industries.
Due to the high concentration of customers, employees, supplies, and work activity in smaller, more confined spaces, there is a far greater chance of very large loss of life, serious injuries, or property damage in food establishments in Bangladesh today than in the past. There is an extremely high risk of toxic releases, large-scale fires, and explosions during peak times-- lunch and dinnertime and holiday celebrations and extreme care and vigilance are needed.
Society must become aware, sensitive, and responsive to these tragic fire death incidents. These incidents cause extensive suffering for the injured survivors or the surviving loved ones of the deceased. A departed working-age adult often leaves behind dependent children, a surviving spouse, and elderly parents in need of care.
People's lives must be respected in society, and they should not end tragically untimely because businesses, building owners and government agencies did not care. Employees and the general public must be trained in fire safety procedures, and taught how to recognise fire hazards and protect themselves using fire exits. To ensure all of these, the government's role is crucial.
The deceased customers were folks who went there just to enjoy life and spend quality time with their loved ones. The people who were supposed to be taking care of them and protecting them were so careless, irresponsible, neglectful, and apathetic that so many had to die.

Hasnat M. Alamgir, PhD, is a Professor and Director of Career and Professional Development at Southeast University, Dhaka.
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