United Hospital fire: An example of mismanagement, negligence
Three of the five people who died in the fire at United Hospital were infected with coronavirus. They went to one of the best and most expensive hospitals in the country for better treatment but ended up losing their lives.
They did not die of the deadly virus, but were burnt to death in the fire. This incident is yet another example of mismanagement and negligence during the pandemic.
A fire broke out in the emergency department outside the main building of United Hospital on 27 May night. It reportedly started from an electrical short circuit.
A probe committee has been formed on behalf of the fire department to investigate the incident.
The cause of the fire and five tragic deaths will be clear once the final report comes in. Fire extinguishers used at present can easily bring the fire caused by electrical short-circuit under control.
But it is learnt that the fire extinguishing equipment of the hospital had passed expiry date and so did not work at the crucial moment.
After a half-hour of attempts by security personnel at the hospital failed, firefighters arrived and put out the blaze.
How did the security system of such an exorbitantly expensive hospital which caters to the wealth section of society, remain in such a poor state? The law stipulates that fire extinguishing equipment and safe exits should be tested and fire drills held regularly.
It is normal to regularly check the effectiveness of fire control equipment and materials in the institution.
Why isn't that one regular exercise done most of the time? This has been seen in the case of Tazreen Garments, and then two fire tragedies in Old Dhaka in recent times.
Why are precautions taken only after the disaster occurs?
Last year, a fire broke out in a multi-storey building in Banani of the capital and after its tragic consequences, various buildings were asked to be alert and take necessary precautions in this regard.
None of this seems to have drawn the attention of the management of United Hospital. Why are precautions taken only after the disaster occurs?
Isn’t this our collective complacence that brought the chaos and unpreparedness to deal with the current coronavirus situation,too?
We believe we have all learnt the necessary lessons from the United Hospital fire incident.