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Buildings without Fire Safety are ordered to be demolished from March

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Fire service and city corporation officials are to start a drive against buildings and factories without fire safety plans from next week. The decision comes after a fire at a high-rise building in Gulshan on Sunday (19 February) killed at least 2 people and injured many.

Firefighters found that during construction, the owners obtained a no-objection certificate from the fire service, but they didn’t get an approved fire safety plan which is mandatory under the fire prevention act.

Brig Gen Md Main Uddin, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told reporters that buildings that do not comply with fire safety rules will be identified. “We will check if they have fire safety plans and licences,” he said, urging city dwellers to be aware of fire safety rules.

The fire service last year inspected 5,869 establishments and buildings, including the government ones, and found 617 buildings “very risky” and 1,606 “risky”.

In Dhaka, officials inspected 1,162 buildings and marked 136 “very risky” and 499 “risky”. Besides, numerous chemical and plastic factories and storage facilities are operated illegally in old Dhaka. A fire at a chemical storage facility in old Dhaka’s Churihatta cost 71 lives in 2019.

Asked about these factories, Brig Gen Main Uddin said the fire service has stopped providing licences to them. The fire service is working with the city corporations and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) to identify the buildings that are not built as per the Bangladesh National Building Code, he said.

“We have 14,000 trained firefighters. We also have advanced equipment. But these certainly will not be enough if there is a major disaster. We are continuing our training and drills to prepare for disasters.

“We have 50,000 volunteers. The target was 62,000. We have trained over one lakh garment workers. Everyone is training their family members and communities. Besides, we are providing training in schools and colleges.”

The fire service is in discussions with the ministry concerned to procure modern equipment.

A fire service delegation that went to Turkey after the recent earthquake has returned after rescuing a girl and recovering 23 bodies, he added.

 

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Economy

FBCCI Urges Action Against Unscrupulous Traders

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FBCCI

The Market Monitoring Committee of FBCCI has urged the concerned market committees to be vigilant in preventing traders from engaging in dishonest practices to earn additional profits.

Md Amin Helaly, Senior Vice-President of FBCCI and Convener of the Market Monitoring Committee, issued this call during a meeting of FBCCI’s Market Monitoring Committee with local market committee leaders at Mohammadpur Town Hall Katcha Market in the capital on Wednesday.

Addressing the meeting as the chief guest, Helaly emphasized the importance of identifying and punishing dishonest businessmen and their associates.

He urged the collection of reports on dishonest traders and their submission to FBCCI, stating, “We will take stringent action against them in collaboration with the government.”

Helaly stated that FBCCI is closely monitoring the market to ensure stability during Ramadan, emphasizing the federation’s role in this regard as a representative of the private sector.

He remarked, “Our efforts will continue in coordination with various government agencies. However, consumers also need to adjust their purchasing habits. Market activities for a month should be more balanced than those on any single day.”

Directors of FBCCI and members of the Bazaar Monitoring Committee were also in attendance at the meeting.

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Economy

US Stresses Collaboration with Bangladesh on Key Issues: Blinken

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Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extends congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on their Independence Day, March 26.

Blinken, on behalf of the United States, sends warm wishes to all Bangladeshis on this significant occasion.

In a statement, Blinken expresses the United States’ eagerness to bolster the partnership and people-to-people connections between the two nations in the coming year.

“The United States takes pride in collaborating with Bangladesh on various critical issues of today, including combating climate change, promoting economic development, addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis, supporting global peacekeeping efforts, and tackling global health challenges,” he remarks.

Highlighting the partnership’s role in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Blinken emphasizes its significance.

“As Bangladesh marks another year of independence, we reiterate our dedication to strengthening democratic governance and safeguarding human rights – endeavors crucial for Bangladesh’s continued prosperity,” he affirms.

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China-Bangladesh Friendship Strengthened, Notes President Xi Jinping

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Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the robust and deep-rooted political trust between Bangladesh and China, along with their productive collaboration across various sectors, yielding tangible benefits for both nations.

Xi Jinping highlighted Bangladesh’s steadfast commitment to independence over the past 53 years, its efforts in economic development, and improvements in livelihoods, laying a strong foundation for the realization of the “Sonar Bangla” dream.

In celebration of Independence Day, Xi Jinping conveyed his congratulations to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin through a letter.

He underscored the longstanding friendship between China and Bangladesh as traditional neighboring nations, noting its continual strengthening.

Xi Jinping expressed his keen interest in advancing the China-Bangladesh relationship and pledged cooperation with President Mohammed Shahabuddin to further enhance high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation and deepen the Strategic Partnership of Cooperation between the two countries.

Simultaneously, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi extended separate congratulatory messages to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud respectively.

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