Despite the extreme risks their job entails, firefighters and rescue workers of the country don't receive any risk allowance for their job.
The employees of the Fire Service and Civil Defence are also not entitled to benefits like health insurance or life insurance and get a meagre monthly medical allowance of Tk 500.
Their pay scale also remains one of the lowest in the country.
Talking to the Daily Star, several Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel complained that even when they sustain severe injuries on duty, an injured fireman is left to pay for his own treatment from the meagre salary he receives.
The firefighters also said that while the other service agencies like the military or police have their own dedicated hospitals, their department has none.
Firemen said that as is the nature of their job, their injuries are mostly burns which require specialised treatment and care which is expensive and also not available in most hospitals of the country.
Fazlur Rahman, a rescue worker of the department, received severe burn injuries in May 2005 when a gasoline storage unit exploded in his face while he was helping rescue a trapped family.
“The cost of my treatment went up to Tk 52,000. I could have never afforded that amount but some sympathetic senior officials and colleagues came to my aid,” Fazlur said.
Most firemen are forced to work unprotected during fire fighting missions, as there is also a shortage of necessary protective gears like fireproof suits, breathing apparatus and masks. This increases the risk of injuries.
In 2008, three firefighters died on duty while 25 were seriously injured -- many with third degree burns and major fractures. There were also countless numbers of minor injuries.
There are only 5,715 firefighters in the country for its population of 14 crore. They fought 9,310 fire incidents last year. In Dhaka mega city, there are only 579 firemen for its 1.5 crore residents. As a result they have to work under tremendous pressure all year round.
Former deputy director of the fire service's Dhaka division Selim Newaz said, “Firefighters and rescue workers around the world are respected for their bravery. They are also highly educated and trained. However, in our part of the world the picture is quite different."
He said the Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel are responsible for multiple crucial tasks, including firefighting, rescue work during building collapses, launch capsize incidents and also other accidents. They also work as 'Medical First Respondent' (MFR) during these emergency situations, he pointed out.
The former official, who himself was injured many times while on duty -- including fracture of his ribs during the ntv building fire incident in 2007 --
said that the salary scale for the fire department is the lowest compared to other government services.
“If we cannot provide these men with economic security then how can we expect them to find motivation for the work they do?” Newaz said.
The current salary scale of a fireman is only Tk 2,600 with a yearly increment of Tk 120. After adding house rent and other benefits the total monthly salary for a fire fighter stands at Tk 4,500. This includes a monthly medical allowance of Tk 500.
The last pay raise the fire department saw was in 2006.
Newaz also pointed out that firefighters and rescue workers also do not have adequate training for their duties. This increases the risk of accidents during their work. He suggested that actual firefighters are sent abroad for training sessions, when opportunities arise, instead of higher officials.
Officials from the department say a proposal to create provisions for risk allowance has been gathering dust since 2006. The proposal was sent to the Home Ministry requesting around 30 percent risk allowance against the basic salary of firemen and rescue workers.
Brig Gen Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told The Daily Star that firemen and rescue workers should get proper incentives for their bravery.
“Plans to provide a risk allowance to these workers now remain in the final stages. The proposal was approved by the home ministry and now is under consideration at the finance ministry”, he said.