Fire service to get major overhaul
The government is all set to increase manpower and other capacities of Fire Service and Civil Defense to modernise the service-oriented organisation in the wake of growing demand.
As part of the move, the Fire Service and Civil Defense Directorate has already proposed an organogram to the home ministry for approval, increasing its manpower to 31,169 from existing 13,130.
Construction of a training academy modeled on such institutions in developed countries is underway, while 56 types of equipment including modern vehicles, pumps and rescue instruments are being purchased at a cost of Tk 223.38 crore, said officials.
"We are working to reshape and modernise the fire service in line with the prime minister's vision 2030 and 2040," Brig Gen Sazzad Hussain, director general of the fire service, told The Daily Star.
The new organogram proposed to upgrade the post of Director General (DG) of fire service to grade-1 and appoint a major general for the post. Now a brigadier general is serving as the DG of the organisation.
Besides, posts for an additional DG and seven deputy DGs have been proposed. An official with the rank of brigadier general will be posted as the additional DG.
According to the new organogram, there will be 27 director posts instead of existing three posts, 135 deputy director posts against the current 14 posts, 257 assistant director posts in place of existing 29 posts, and 502 deputy assistant director posts against the existing 77 posts. Several meetings have already been held over the proposed organogram, sent to the ministry around one and a half month ago, said sources in the ministry and fire service.
Lt Col SM Zulfiker Rahman, director (training, planning & development) of Fire Service, said that with funds from UNDP they will appoint a consultant firm to prepare rules for recruitment and promotion under the new organogram.
About the academy, he said it will have all modern facilities where coordinated trainings will be given to staff through simulations.
Four companies have already participated in DPP (development project proposal) for construction of the academy at Gazaria in Munshiganj, he added. He said now they have only one training centre on five acres of land in the capital's Mirpur which cannot meet the demands.
To set up the academy, Tk 248.21 crore has been allocated for the acquisition of 100.92 acres of land, and acquisition is being undertaken by the deputy commissioner of the district, officials said.
Lt Col Zulfiker also said each fire station will have manpower with expertise on rescue operation in case of fire, structural or chemical disasters.
The number of fire stations has been increased to 457 from 148. The director said the prime minister instructed to build fire stations in all upazilas, but they are yet to start operation in 95 upazilas.
Replying to a query, he said the yardstick for fire service is to reach any spot of incident within 8-10 minutes after receiving a call.
In the meantime, 1,137 fire service personnel have been trained abroad and 26,758 have been given internal training, officials said. In 2019, 241 officers and employees have been given training abroad.
Over 6.78 lakh have been trained on fire fighting and disaster management through 16,966 civilian training courses.
As part of preparing 60,000 volunteers, 44,612 have already received training. A project has also been undertaken to increase the number of ambulances, officials said.
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