Fire at Bashundhara City

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BASHUNDHARA Group's Corporate Office, attached with the Bashundhara City Sopping Mall, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in South Asia, was gutted in a devastating fire on March 13, 2009. The fire devoured the top five floors of the tower from 15th to 20th floor except the 16th. It has been proved that the accident could not defeat the owners. It was not too difficult for Bashundhara Group, the largest conglomerate of the country, to re-establish its offices and to resume daily work. It is also assumed that it will not take too much time to rebuild the structures lost to the fire but the loss of documents related to its business operations might put the Group in some real difficulties.
The Fire Protection Act 2003 directs all buildings, including commercial establishments, to have sufficient firefighting equipment and also to conform to the measures for public security. The Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brig Gen Abu Nayeem Md. Shahidullah said "according to the fire rules, every floor should have at least two fire extinguishers, hydrant point, water reservoir and a tank on top which will always contain a certain amount of water." He also said that every market needs to arrange training on safety net. We know that most of the city markets do not have fire safety measures.
But it shocked me that having all these equipment and necessary training for this purpose, how had the fire been allowed to burn so much of its assets, documents and establishments? Being a client of Meghna Cement Mills Limited -- an enterprise of Bashundhara Group, I had an opportunity to go to its corporate office at level-14 of Bashundhara City Tower where I saw enough safety equipment such as two emergency exits, hydrant points, smoke detectors and so on. Even after the accident, I got another opportunity to visit the damaged area of the tower part and I found that the fire equipment had been used, the glasses of hose pipes were broken, gas cylinders seemed to have been left used. I am astonished that in spite of having such modern fire detecting and preventing system, how could the burning start and continue? I heard that the higher authority of Bashundhara group used to conduct drill at regular intervals.
This inferno not only damaged the assets and documents of the Group but also hampered the image of our country and leaves every private or commercial establishment vulnerable. We, the general people, really want to know what the source of this accident was and would really appreciate the investigating team if they let us know the reason behind it. They may also inform us what safety equipment every establishment should maintain. The Fire Service of this country should be well-equipped to handle this sort of situation.
We, from the bottom of our hearts, appreciate the employees of Bashundhara Group, firemen, the members of the armed forces, police and local people for trying their best to bring the fire under control and maintain peace and discipline in the area. We are shocked at the death of seven employees of Bashundhara and the damage of the architectural masterpiece.

Masudur Rahman Manna
A student of MBA
Department of Banking
University of Dhaka