Bangladesh cracks down on dangerous high-rises
DHAKA:
Bangladesh launched a crackdown against shoddy buildings and illegal chemical factories in residential areas after an apartment block collapsed and resulted in a huge fire that killed over a hundred, officials said.
The blaze raged through the historic heart of Dhaka on Thursday. The fire has been fuelled by an illegal chemical warehouse that was located in the basement of one of the buildings.
Two days earlier, a four-storey block of flats collapsed and fell onto three tin shanties, killing at least 25 garment factory labourers.
The accidents have raised concerns among Dhaka’s residents, forcing the government to act.
“We set up two taskforces to crack down on unapproved buildings and illegal chemical factories and warehouses,” food and disaster management minister Abdur Razzak told AFP.“We won’t allow chemical to be stored in residential areas. It’s too dangerous,” he said. “We shall also identify and demolish high-rise buildings that have gone up while flouting construction laws”, he declared.
“Local officials have already started knocking down a seven-floor building seen tilting dangerously on Friday,” magistrate Mohammad Rokonuddowla said. He also announced that authorities will demolish two more multi-storied buildings in the next seven days, as they too tilting. “They were built without government approval,” he observed
Police shut down four chemical stores in residential districts of old Dhaka, according to the ATN Bangla television channel.
On Thursday, Fire fighters said the blaze was made worse by an illegal chemical warehouse which caught fire, creating a blazing inferno which engulfed surrounding buildings.
Two burn victims died in hospital Monday, bringing the death toll to 119. Dozens of critically injured patients are still being treated in Dhaka hospitals.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.
Bangladesh launched a crackdown against shoddy buildings and illegal chemical factories in residential areas after an apartment block collapsed and resulted in a huge fire that killed over a hundred, officials said.
The blaze raged through the historic heart of Dhaka on Thursday. The fire has been fuelled by an illegal chemical warehouse that was located in the basement of one of the buildings.
Two days earlier, a four-storey block of flats collapsed and fell onto three tin shanties, killing at least 25 garment factory labourers.
The accidents have raised concerns among Dhaka’s residents, forcing the government to act.
“We set up two taskforces to crack down on unapproved buildings and illegal chemical factories and warehouses,” food and disaster management minister Abdur Razzak told AFP.“We won’t allow chemical to be stored in residential areas. It’s too dangerous,” he said. “We shall also identify and demolish high-rise buildings that have gone up while flouting construction laws”, he declared.
“Local officials have already started knocking down a seven-floor building seen tilting dangerously on Friday,” magistrate Mohammad Rokonuddowla said. He also announced that authorities will demolish two more multi-storied buildings in the next seven days, as they too tilting. “They were built without government approval,” he observed
Police shut down four chemical stores in residential districts of old Dhaka, according to the ATN Bangla television channel.
On Thursday, Fire fighters said the blaze was made worse by an illegal chemical warehouse which caught fire, creating a blazing inferno which engulfed surrounding buildings.
Two burn victims died in hospital Monday, bringing the death toll to 119. Dozens of critically injured patients are still being treated in Dhaka hospitals.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.