NIMTOLI FIRE PROBE BODY’S RECOMMENDATIONS HC asks govt to explain failure to implement

The High Court Division on Tuesday directed the government to explain in four weeks why its failure to relocate chemical warehouses from old Dhaka and 16 other recommendations made by a high-power probe committee after Nimtoli was devastated by fire in 2010 would not be declared illegal. 
At least 124 people were killed and scores of others suffered grievous burns in the fire at Nimtoli on June 3, 2010.
A bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader also directed the government to explain why its failure to prevent recurrence of devastating fire at Chawk Bazar in old Dhaka would not be declared illegal.
Respondents include cabinet secretary, secretaries of ministries of law, home and industries, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, the directors general of Fire Service and Civil Defence and the department of environment, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission and department of explosive’s chief inspector. 
The bench also directed the attorney general to take the initiative so that the government pays Tk five lakh to families of each persons killed by Chawk Bazar fire as immediate compensation.
Payment of Tk one lakh as compensation to each family, as the government decided, would be far from ‘sufficient,’ the court said.
At least 69 people were killed by fire in Chawk Bazar on February 20.
After the Nimtoli fire the probe body also recommended action against running unauthorized warehouses, construction of buildings according to Fire Prevention Act 2003 and the Building Code, strengthening monitoring of storing, marketing and licensing of chemicals, creation of awareness against storing and marketing of chemical or inflammable substance in residential areas, setting up hydrants for fire fighters, banning storing or marketing of chemicals in residential areas, ensure quality of electric wiring at houses, formation of national taskforce to ensure co-coordinating between government departments, modernization of Fire Service with increased manpower.
The bench adjourned the hearing of three other writ petitions on Chawk Bazar fire for four weeks.
The petitioners were ZI Khan Panna, Eunus Ali Akond and Md Javed Mia.
Another bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal adjourned until Sunday hearing a supplementary application jointly filed by five rights organization and individual seeking follow up implementation of the 17recommedations made by probe committee after the Nimtoli fire.
The petitioners had filed a writ petition after the Nimtoli fire.
Among the petitioners was Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Ain o Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, BRAC, Institute of Architects Bangladesh and Hashem Sufi of Sutrapur.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net