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Published : 15 Apr 2023, 06:16 PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked authorities to investigate whether the BNP and its ally Jamaat are linked to the recent market fires.
"It should be investigated whether they [BNP and Jamaat] are taking a different route by triggering fire incidents," she said at a meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban on Saturday.
The prime minister also ordered a probe into whether market fires were a conspiracy or an act of sabotage. She called upon her countrymen to stay alert against any occurrence and not to forget the arson attacks by the BNP-Jamaat clique, according to the state-run news agency BSS.
The head of the government urged all to remain alert, keeping in mind the past misdeeds by the opposition group. Besides, she asked the authorities to increase surveillance at important marketplaces.
"People must be more cautious. Everyone has to make arrangements on their own to guard their establishments, besides all-out efforts by the government," she said.
The prime minister said emergency workers must not allow crowds during firefighting, and strict action would be taken in case of any obstruction to work.
When the first fire incident occurred, it was thought that it was an accident, she said. "Then a couple of other incidents occurred almost at the same time -- around 6 am. Surveillance should be increased and other markets have to remain alert."
She also mentioned that it was noticeable that when the fire service personnel arrived on the scene, they faced obstacles from some people.
"Why would they face obstacles and why would some people with sticks attack the firefighters when they doused the fire? Who are these people?"
Hasina said if anyone looks into these four fire incidents, questions would arise, such as: Are these fires really accidents? Is there any sabotage?
"Some political parties are out there to wage a campaign after Eid, to cripple the economy and oust the government. Yes, you can oust the government. What are the faults of these ordinary people and businessmen?" she said.
Hasina said businessmen were the worst sufferers as they waited for the Eid season, expecting better sales.
Recalling the arson attacks by the BNP-Jamaat group in the recent past, she suspected that the fire incidents could be another form of crime by the nexus.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir pointed the finger at the government, blaming negligence of the authorities for the fire incidents.
“The blazes in large markets in Dhaka and other parts of the country are highly suspicious. People and traders are seeking answers over these incidents,” he said in a statement.
“The fire incidents at Bangabazar, Nawabpur market and New Super Market just before Eid prove that the illegal Awami League government is busy protecting its powers. It has no interest in preventing fire or other sorts of work related to people’s welfare.”
After the prime minister ordered the investigation into BNP-Jamaat’s alleged links to the fire incident, Fakhrul termed her comments “irresponsible”, while speaking at a programme.
“The prime minister should’ve ordered an unbiased investigation, but she didn’t do it. She asks to check if the BNP is involved in the incidents. It means she wants the BNP to be found guilty anyway.”
Khandaker Al Moin, a spokesman for the Rapid Action Battalion, said the elite force had launched an investigation to find out if the New Super Market fire was an act of sabotage.
In a statement, the RAB said its personnel in uniform and plainclothes reached the site immediately after the fire erupted in the market.
They helped the traders get the products out and worked to control crowd and traffic.
Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the inspector general of police, said the law enforcers were looking into all the recent market fire incidents. “If we find sabotage behind these incidents, those involved will face tough action,” he warned, speaking at an event on Saturday.
An investigation would be needed into whether any of the recent fires were the result of sabotage, fire service chief Brig Gen Main Uddin said during a visit to the New Super Market, where the latest fire incident occurred on Saturday.
He did not rule out accidents, urging people to be particularly cautious at night. “It is currently the dry season and there is very little humidity in the air. Markets and stores often use lots of large, high-powered lights to make things look more appealing. They can cause fires.”
