Who ensures fire safety in markets?

A report in this newspaper has revealed that over 20 markets belonging to the two city corporations are woefully lacking in effective fire safety equipment on their premises. The issue of fighting fire came to the fore during the outbreak of fire that went on for most of a day in the Gulshan 1 kitchen market that gutted more than 300 shops. Now, while traders, shop owners and corporations trade blame on one another, it is time we had shared responsibility. Why not leave it to corporations to install fire safety equipment in markets as per requirement (the cost of which will be borne by building owners) while it be the job of shop owners' associations at these markets to maintain the equipment?

We are all silent spectators every time a fire breaks out at these multi-storied markets, but it is the ordinary people who get caught up when a fire rages out of control. And despite repeated promises by authorities that substantive action will be taken after each incident, we seldom find any real effort to tackle the situation. If building owners do not maintain firefighting equipment then they should be penalised heavily. Since city corporations give permits to construct buildings, they, in conjunction with the fire service department and WASA, are the best to specify what sort of equipment must be installed in these markets. This is not rocket science. Dhaka is not the only city in the world to have multi-storied markets. But this continuous shifting of blame is hardly conducive to solving the fiery problem.