Fire Brigade to be modernised soon to tackle any terrible fire in future: Sahara
Sunday, 15 March 2009
A day after a big fire at the country's biggest shopping mall Bashundhara City, Home Minister Sahara Khatun said the Fire Brigade would be modernised soon with high-tech equipment and training for firefighters to tackle any such terrible fire in the future, reports UNB.
The minister made the remarks as the Fire Bridge personnel were seen helpless in extinguishing the fire on top floors of the 21-storey shopping mall, as they had no ladder or equipment to put out blaze beyond the 13th floor.
Friday's fire at Bashundhara City originated on the 18th floor and spread quickly down to the 14th floor, leaving seven people dead and dozens other injured.
Among the dead, four have been identified. They are: Bashundhara City complex fireman Baki Billah, electricity helper Ibrahim Mondal, superviser Harun-or-Rashid and supervisor Mohammad Ali.
"The Prime Minister has asked to set up fire bridge office in each upazila and procure necessary equipment speedily," she told journalists after visiting burn-injured people being treated at Shamarita Hospital Saturday.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith also visited the injured people at the hospital at Panthapath close to the Bashundhara City mall.
The Home Minister deplored that the governments did not work in the last seven years to modernize the Fire Brigade department. "I feel ashamed that the past BNP-Jamaat government only amassed wealth for themselves. Whenever you will open files, you'll see that they did nothing."
The Finance Minister admitted that the Fire Bridge department had no ability to tackle such a big fire. "May be we've become modern in many fields, but we're not modern in all fields," he said, adding that it needed technology and training to modernise the Fire Brigade.
Replying to a question, he said it would be looked into whether the city's high-rise buildings has complied with the building code.
The minister made the remarks as the Fire Bridge personnel were seen helpless in extinguishing the fire on top floors of the 21-storey shopping mall, as they had no ladder or equipment to put out blaze beyond the 13th floor.
Friday's fire at Bashundhara City originated on the 18th floor and spread quickly down to the 14th floor, leaving seven people dead and dozens other injured.
Among the dead, four have been identified. They are: Bashundhara City complex fireman Baki Billah, electricity helper Ibrahim Mondal, superviser Harun-or-Rashid and supervisor Mohammad Ali.
"The Prime Minister has asked to set up fire bridge office in each upazila and procure necessary equipment speedily," she told journalists after visiting burn-injured people being treated at Shamarita Hospital Saturday.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith also visited the injured people at the hospital at Panthapath close to the Bashundhara City mall.
The Home Minister deplored that the governments did not work in the last seven years to modernize the Fire Brigade department. "I feel ashamed that the past BNP-Jamaat government only amassed wealth for themselves. Whenever you will open files, you'll see that they did nothing."
The Finance Minister admitted that the Fire Bridge department had no ability to tackle such a big fire. "May be we've become modern in many fields, but we're not modern in all fields," he said, adding that it needed technology and training to modernise the Fire Brigade.
Replying to a question, he said it would be looked into whether the city's high-rise buildings has complied with the building code.