Corporation moves to relocate Old Dhaka's chemical factories

The Dhaka South City Corporation has started a drive to relocate the illegal chemical factories and warehouses from Old Dhaka.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 12 March 2017, 11:40 AM
Updated : 12 March 2017, 12:52 PM

A mobile court started the drive at Lalbagh's Shahidnagar in presence of Dhaka South City Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Sunday.

One factory was fined Tk 200,000 and two others were asked to immediately relocate at the start of the drive around 12 in the afternoon.

Officials of the Fire Services, Environment and district administration participated in the drive.

Mayor Khokon said that there were many illegal chemical factories and warehouses in Old Dhaka.

"Many people have died in fires that erupted in these factories and warehouses. So these have to be closed down."

Khokon said that no factory that threatens public safety will be allowed to continue in such a highly populated area.

"We are determined to relocate them and the drive will continue until they move away."

When asked if the corporation would earmark any specific area for relocating these factories, Khokon said it was "entirely upto the owners".

"The corporation has nothing to do with the relocation. It is entirely upto the owners where they will relocate their factories."

The mayor said that the corporation has already mobilised public opinion for relocating these hazardous factories.

The court fined Unique Polymar factory Tk 200,000 for storing inflammable liquids and lacking fire safety measures. 
 
The factory located at Lane No. 1 Shahidnagar is authorised for producing plastic materials but stored the liquids to produce glue for making shoes, said Executive Magistrate Tanzila Kabir. 
 
Factory owner Abdul Karim Sentu fled sensing the drive. A worker of the factory, Kobad Ali, will have to serve six months in jail in case the factory fails to pay the fines.
 
"The penalty comes for violating Section 18 of the Fire Prevention Act 2003," said Magistrate Tanzila. 
 
On Jun 3, 2010, at least 125 people died in a massive fire at the Agamasi Lane in Old Dhaka's Nimtoli.
 
Locals said the fire erupted as a transformer exploded amid cooking preparations for a wedding in the area. It soon spread through shoes, papers, and plastic materials stored in adjacent shops and factories.