13 years of Nimtali tragedy today

Today marks 14 years of Nimtali tragedy. 124 lives were lost in the terrible fire on June 3, 2010. It was mentioned in the investigation that the terrible fire spread in Nimtoli of Nawab Katra in old Dhaka due to flammable materials kept in the warehouse of chemicals.

On that day, the fire started from the hearth of a marriage house. The fire spread in the blink of an eye as there were chemical warehouses nearby. The flames of the fire took a terrible form. The bride's relatives, guests and neighbors were burnt to death. 23 houses, shops and factories were burnt.

One day state mourning was declared in this incident. After the incident, the inquiry committee recommended the removal of chemical warehouses and factories from the residential areas of Old Dhaka. But even today that recommendation has not been fully implemented. At that time, the committee made a report to the Ministry of Industry listing more than 500 highly dangerous chemicals with recommendations to fix places in Keraniganj and Narayanganj.

After Nimtali, there was a terrible fire incident in Churidhatta of old Dhaka. In addition, small fires often occur in Old Dhaka. However, the chemical godown is not moving from old Dhaka.

It is known that there are more than 20,000 chemical warehouses and shops in Old Dhaka. Of these, only 800 warehouses have approval or license. Various chemicals are also kept in homes.

It is to be noted that on this day, a fire incident occurred at house number 43 of Nimtali at around 9 pm. At that time, two sisters Runa and Ratna were on the ground floor and three girls named Asma were getting married in the next house. Next to the cooking area was the chemical warehouse. Plastic drums of chemicals stored in warehouses melt in extreme heat. 11 members of the same family died on the spot.

And six people from the house number 55 in front and another six people from the house next to the marriage house died. Instantly the fire spread to the surrounding buildings. Many people were burnt to embers in front of hundreds of people. 23 houses, shops and factories were burnt in this incident.

Later Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina organized the marriage of three daughters at Ganobhaban with motherly love.

Bangladesh /OF