2384 burnt to death in 16 years

Mismanagement in fire extinguishment, lack of technology and proper training among people have amplified fatalities in fire incidents in Bangladesh.

As many as 2 thousand 384 people burnt to death in the country in last 16 year while almost 13 thousand people sustained burn injury.

Lack of modern fire extinguishing systems is the main reason of such amount of casualties, experts opine.

Fire service officials say, apart from moderising firefighting expertise awareness among people is significantly necessary.

Accounting casualties

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, some 154 people died by burning in 2020 leaving 386 people injured. In previous year, 185 people died and 571 people were injured.

As many as 485 people died from 2006 to 2008 and 3 thousand 868 people sustained burn injury while the figure was 1 thousand 128 and 5 thousand 817 respectively from 2009 to 2013.

Between 2014 and 2018, 365 people burnt to death and 1 thousand 732 got injury.

204 died while fighting the fire and participating in rescue operation while 1 thosuand 706 sustained injury.

In 2021, 67 people died so far in fire incidents.

Recent fire incidents

Some 52 people died in the recent fire that broke out at the factory of Hashem Food and Beverage in Narayanganj on Thursday (July 8). 11 people died in another explosion in Mogbazaar.

4 persons died in a blaze at a chemical warehouse in capital’s Armanitola on April 22.

The most horrific fire incident occurred in Tazrin fashion at Ashulia illied 117 workers in 2012 leaving more than 200 injured. 101 workers burnt alive while 10 died jumping from the rooftop to escape the blaze.

Fire station at every upazila

“Public awareness is a must to avoid fire incidents. If people become aware of, such mishaps will lessen,” said Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate General Brigadier General Sajjad Hossain.

“To modernise the fire service department, efforts have been taken. Manpower has been increased. Modern firefighting equipment are brought,” Sajjad furthered. 

Fire service stations will be installed at every upazila in the country, added he.