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“People spend money on interior design instead of fire safety, putting their lives at risk. It does not require so much money for ensuring fire safety in residential and commercial buildings. In fact, it requires less than five percent of the entire construction cost,” said the fire service director, adding that they were suffering from a lack of water bodies for controlling fire.

“There were 100 ponds in Dhaka. Now there are only 29. Most canals and lakes are either occupied or without any water flow,” he said.

Speaking as the chief guest, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Md Tazul Islam said coordination among the agencies concerned and people’s awareness is required to prevent fire incidents.

“There is no alternative to following all building construction rules for preventing fire incidents. This is why areas require adequate water bodies, roads and open space. We have to ensure facilities in terms of population. Inadequate civic facilities are making this city gradually unlivable,” said Tazul.

Md Anisur Rahman Miah, chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, said one will have to submit five plans to get approval for their construction proposals -- the architectural plan, structural plan, fire safety plan, electrical plan and plumbing plan -- from June 1, following Bangladesh National Building Code.

“Earlier, we used to ask for the architectural plan only,” he informed.

UDJFB Amitosh Pal chaired the dialogue, moderated by its General Secretary Sohel Mamun.

Prof Akter Mahmud of Jahangirnagar University’s urban planning department; Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Chief Engineer Kamrul Hasan; and Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Md Mizanur Rahman spoke at the event among others.