Fire at Krishi Market: A mere accident?

The recent devastating fire incident in the capital’s Mohammadpur Krishi market can no longer be dismissed as a mere accident. This catastrophic blaze engulfed more than 500 shops and resulted in the destruction of property worth millions of takas. Within some of hours, hundreds of traders found themselves penniless.

Traders vehemently argue that this fire was no accident, pointing to a perplexing detail: the simultaneous outbreak of flames in three shops located at different ends of the market, an occurrence far from normal.

According to eyewitness accounts, the fire first erupted suddenly in the confectionary section, situated in the east-south corner of the market on Wednesday night. Remarkably, within one to one-and-a-half minutes, another shop was ablaze in the north-west corner. Concurrently, various newspapers reported yet another store on the south-west side catching fire. The traders rightly question how these three shops at opposite ends of the market could all ignite simultaneously.

Adding to the suspicion is the fact that destructive fires in the capital’s markets consistently seem to start late at night. This recurring pattern raises further doubts.

Another concerning trend emerges when considering the locations of these fires. Most of the markets that have recently caught fires in Dhaka are managed by the city corporation.

Additionally, the markets designated for demolition by the City Corporation or those undergoing renovation have been susceptible to these fires, a matter brought to light by Helal Uddin,

President of the Bangladesh Shop Owner Association.

These market fires provoke numerous inquiries, but the results often lead to no meaningful action being taken. However, it is imperative that a thorough investigation into the exact cause of this fire be conducted.

Nonetheless, we should not divert our attention from the market authorities’ indifference to fire safety measures. It is undeniable that all the markets that have succumbed to these fires shared common vulnerabilities, such as the presence of highly flammable materials and the absence of proper firefighting equipment and preparedness. The market management committees have consistently disregarded fire safety concerns. Therefore, vigilance at every step is important to prevent such devastating incidents from recurring.