Dhaka, Feb 23 (UNI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the Chawkbazar tragedy was a lesson for chemical warehouse owners in old Dhaka, urging them to relocate their godowns elsewhere.
'I hope that those who earlier opposed to relocate their chemical warehouses from (crammed) old Dhaka will not hesitate after the tragedy,' she told the media after visiting the wounded fire patients at National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery here.
Nine years ago, after the Nimtali tragedy, the government had launched an initiative and earmarked a place at Keraniganj to relocate the warehouses of flammable products but the effort was nullified due to reluctance of the warehouse owners, the Bangladesh premier said.
The government at that time planned to build modern warehouses for the chemical godowns there particularly to ensure fire safety where any blaze could be contained promptly before it could cause any casualty or major damage, she further said.
She re-extended her previous proposal, under which the government would develop the modern warehouses to be rented out to chemical warehouse owners, the premier said.
Sheikh Hasina also advised the concerned authorities to stay alert against re-ocurrence of Chawkbazar tragedy anywhere, particularly in Old Dhaka.
She expressed her profound sympathy to the family members of those who were burnt to death and injured by the blaze and said the government will do everything possible for the treatment of the injured.
The premier said she planned to announce the national mourning for the victims after consultation with the officials.
Sheikh Hasina further said the government will take all efforts for the treatment of the injured.
'We will do whatever needed for their treatment', she said.
UNI MAZ JTS SNU 1856