Nimtali tragedy not an isolated incident: BAPA

A seminar of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) on Sunday said Nimtali tragedy was not an isolated incident but the result of long-standing policy failure, weak urban governance, and inadequate safety measures. 

The seminar stressed that strict enforcement of laws, greater public awareness, and integrated urban planning are essential to prevent similar disasters in the future.

The seminar ‘Nimtali Tragedy: When Will Negligence-Induced Killings End?’ was held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall of the National Press Club to mark Nimtali Day.

It was chaired by BAPA President Prof Dr Nur Mohammad Talukdar and moderated by its General Secretary Md Alamgir Kabir. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator and Freedom Fighter Abdus Salam was the chief guest.

Deputy Director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Md Saleh Uddin was the special guest.

A keynote paper by Prof Dr Ahmed Kamruzzaman Majumder described the Nimtali fire incident as a turning point for Bangladesh's chemical safety and urban disaster management, saying the country's rapid urbanisation and industrial growth have not been matched by effective chemical safety systems or risk-based urban planning.

DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam blamed the practice of renting residential buildings for chemical storage in pursuit of profits, saying it had contributed to disasters, such as Nimtali and Churihatta. He called for stricter enforcement of the building code and increased public awareness.

BAPA President Prof Talukdar warned chemical businesses concentrated along rivers have significantly polluted the Buriganga and Dhaleshwari rivers, while inadequate implementation of environmental laws has worsened the situation.