The Sitakunda fire has a volley of questions that need to be answered

Forty-nine lives including nine of our fire-fighters is too many to have lost in one single industrial accident which bears striking resemblance to the Beirut explosion that claimed more than 200 lives two years ago.

The nation is deeply shocked at such a huge loss of life which, apparently, seems to have occurred due to sheer negligence and lack of accountability. The incident still being in the spotlight, a lot of failings will start to make the headlines in the coming weeks, perhaps even months. It is unsurprising to learn that the container terminal did not have any licence to store chemicals and yet it had hydrogen peroxide stored in more than 16 containers. 

Did the container terminal have its own fire and safety arrangement? Did it have persons on duty around the clock to detect and prevent fires? Did they employ any fire extinguishing equipment? If so, what type and in what number? Did they have a fire hydrant system installed? How many trained persons had they employed as first responders? Did they periodically carry out mock drills to handle fire hazards? How did they organize manpower and equipment for such an essential task? Did they even carry out any awareness program for employees regarding the hazards and likely actions? Were the employees given any kind of safety gear to protect themselves in such hazards? Was there any awareness talk ever held for the unfortunate victims? 

The questions are endless, but a lot of them can also be levelled at our own government as well.

The Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong has been quoted saying that they would take measures in place to ensure that hazardous substances do not make their way into the Bay of Bengal through the channels around. As conscious citizens, do we have the right to ask him as to what resources he has at his disposal to be employed to arrest such flow of chemicals to the bay?

A fire alarm is sounded by a gong kept at the quarter guard of an army unit. Hundreds of soldiers rush and get assembled in various groups of fire-fighters, rescue parties, cordon parties, salvage parties, first aid, and so on. A quick head count is taken. Soldiers rush with hand-held extinguishers, fire-beaters, buckets, hooks, and ladders. Some run with the stretchers and carry the wounded and injured away.

The mad rush is over within 10 to 15 minutes -- after things are done, they all gather again with their subaltern standing in front with a hand mic to review the whole exercise, highlight on the performance of various components, make everyone realize the importance of all this and thank the participants. 

Well, that is how a mock fire drill is carried out at an army base. To an outsider, this may seem to be sort of fun and frolic, but this practice is vital in generating and rekindling awareness of fire hazards, organising and training people, checking and keeping fire fighting equipment in good working condition, and thereby enhancing their ability to face and triumph over such hazards. This is the very basic, but effective, way of preparing to handle fire hazards which had been traditionally practised in the military for ages. 

With the advent of technology, these days systems such as smoke, heat, and fire detectors, sprinklers, automatic alarm system, fire doors, breathing apparatus, fire proof aprons, a well laid out hydrant system, water pumps, and hose reels and a host of other devices to be employed in fighting fire in various installations. The fire-fighting requirements at installations will vary greatly depending on the type of hazard they are exposed to. Different types of fire will definitely demand specialized response. 

The authorities at the Sitakunda container terminal claim that theirs is a genuine business established and run following proper procedures. This is only a transit facility for containers to come and go. Hence they claim they did not know their contents, since the containers even do not belong to them. In their view there could be lapses which only can be determined after proper investigation.   

It is surprising why the ministry of environment could not even know that such hazardous items were being handled in that terminal. The explosives department claims they haven’t issued any licenses for handling chemicals or explosives. The name of the container depot is not even listed in the glossary of facilities entitled to handle chemicals or explosives. Now we know that there are other, similar, establishments in the country which may be of the same status, ie handling chemicals and explosives without authorization to do so. 

Now, whether the container terminal was entitled to handle containers with chemicals in them I am sure a competent authority will find out along with the procedural lapses. But, as an establishment handling goods in thousands of containers, they must have their own fire safety precautions and prevention arrangements. This must come to the fore as to what arrangements, if any, they had. Our minister for home affairs is assuring us that if there are faults or omissions found on the part of anybody punitive measures will follow. 

Businesses in general have done commendable jobs by investing in newer ventures in the country, they are generating employment for millions of our countrymen, exporting products to many destinations, and earning the sought after foreign currency. They are the ones keeping the economy growing and booming. Even when the world is witnessing a recession after the Covid episode, we are comparatively better off than many.

We commend our businesses and entrepreneurs since, like many unscrupulous elements, they have not syphoned out our wealth elsewhere in the world. We know you have taken bold steps forward.

But, having done so much for our economy, should they gamble and take an undue chance with the safety of those working for them, or indeed the people in general? This is a question that must be answered sooner rather than later.

Making a proper safety plan entails considerable expenditure. Hiring experts who would come and do the study and suggest a comprehensive plan to keep workers and material safe is all but imperative. Putting that plan on the ground again will entail recurring expenditure in terms of manpower and resources. But isn’t that worth spending to save lives and property built through the hard work for decades in jeopardy? 

Brig Gen QazI Abidus Samad, ndc, psc is a freelance contributor.