The curious case of curious onlookers: Our responses to disaster

The common man's definition consists of a few core characteristics that help him to strive, survive, and navigate his life. Adaptability, persistence, the innate sense of good and evil, hard-working and an unquenchable thirst to know and discover. Such abilities ensure his survival and help him forge his path in life. However, we often blur the lines between our inquisitive nature and standing in the way.

We, time and again, obstruct the path between disaster and professional help. Sure, the initial impression of the people observing the onlookers would be, "they are contributing to the problem." But why is this a common occurrence in case of any indent? From fire incidents, street fights, road accidents, or even construction sites undergoing a regular work day.

Can we really chalk it up to the expression of pointless curiosity, or is there more to it? As we are morose over the devastating news of the recent fire that engulfed the Bangabazar market, reducing it to ashes. The heart-wrenching incident was even more tragic because the firefighters could not reach the market on time due to the thousands of onlookers standing in their way.

The Bangabazar market has been a bustling hub of commerce for several decades, providing readymade garment goods and associated services to the entirety of the city of Dhaka. It was a place where small business owners worked tirelessly to make ends meet. There are stories of many business owners who struggled mightily to make ends meet and flourish to keep their families afloat. However, in a matter of hours, all of that was lost.

The pictures and videos of the market in flames and the people's frantic attempts to save their way of life will linger in our memories for a very long time. The tragedy was made worse by the fact that the firefighters were late getting to the market because of the enormous crowds that had gathered there.

Many were seen broadcasting live on Facebook while others took selfies in the fire-ravaged area. According to witnesses, the relief teams could not bring in the equipment and vehicles due to the crowd — a crowd that the police found very difficult to manage.

A similar series of events will start to appear if we look back at the harrowing Banani Fire incident in 2019, where many lives perished. A building is engulfed in a prime location of Dhaka, while thousands of onlookers are standing on the streets witnessing how lives and the building alike are being reduced to ashes, while the paramedics and ambulances, first responders, and fire engines could not reach the area with their equipment.

Granted, there have been times when the general people made themselves helpful by volunteering for the authorities and professionals. But those who are there just to quench their curiosity should be called out. 

It is critical to recall that when catastrophes like this hit, our collective duty is to ensure rescue and relief efforts are not hampered. While pausing and observing the spectacle may be enticing, we must remember that every minute lost can mean the difference between life and death, property loss, and preservation.

The Bangabazar fire is yet another stark reminder of the significance of catastrophe preparation and taking preemptive measures to ensure the protection of our communities. Appropriate fire safety equipment, evacuation strategies, and emergency reaction methods must be in place to avoid such disasters.

We should seize this opportunity to come together as a community and work towards a more safe and robust future for ourselves and our loved ones as we mourn the loss of the Bangabazar market. We must constantly remind ourselves to be a part of the answer and to aid first responders in any way we can. It can also be as simple as making way for help or moving out of the way.