No chemical warehouse to be allowed in Old Dhaka: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday expressed her government's firm stand to remove the warehouses of inflammable materials from the old quarter and other residential areas of the capital, reports UNB.

“Such inflammable materials can't be allowed to be here. We're looking for a separate place for them (businessmen). But we don't want to ruin their businesses. But no chemical warehouse can be allowed to be there in residential areas,” she said.

The prime minister said this while addressing the oath-taking programme of the newly elected mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation and 50 newly elected councillors of DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation at the Prime Minister's Office in the city.

In a recent fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area, at least 71 people have been killed.

Addressing the DSCC mayor Sayeed Khokon, who was present at the programme, Hasina said the recent fire incident in Old Dhaka is very painful.

She said, “The businessmen (of inflammable products) can keep their showrooms and sell their products here. But we'll arrange a completely separate place for warehouses where inflammable materials would be safe.”

Mentioning the Nimtoli fire incident that took place in 2010, she said many people lost their lives in the two fire incidents in Chawkbazar and Nimtoli areas.

"So, we won't accept any obstacle in this regard," she warned.