Fire in BSEC Building
Halishahar Housing Estate, Chittagong
On 26 Feb 2006, a fire broke out in BSEC building that gutted 2 private television transmission stations and one newspaper office and some other business offices as well. We witnessed the wholehearted efforts of fire fighting by different agencies namely Fire Brigade, Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Air Force. Watching the live coverage on Bangla Vision, it became evident that we don't have the adequate and appropriate apparatus to fight fire if that breaks out in a high-rise building. Many people were stuck on the roof. Thanks to Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) helicopters that rescued a few people. But it also had to abandon its operation as fire was spreading due to its rotor wash. The hydraulic crane of the Fire Department could reach up to about 5 or 6 stories only. Dhaka is said to be the concrete jungle with abundant high-rise residential buildings. People will have no choice other than jumping out in the event of fire in such high-rise buildings. In respect to BSEC building fire, had there been a helipad at the rooftop of the building, BAF helicopters could rescue all of them without any difficulty. Another revealing fact was that the building did not have any fire exit.In the context of this incident, the government agencies concerned should think of making it mandatory for all high-rise buildings to have fire/emergency exit. Civil Defence should acquire modern cranes and other apparatus to fight fire and rescue people from high-rise buildings in case of fire. Nahid Islam
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