STAR BUSINESS REPORT

Short circuits continue to be the leading cause of fire incidents in Bangladesh, accounting for more than one-third of all cases, official data shows, pointing to long-standing failures in electrical safety and infrastructure oversight.

According to the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), the country recorded 26,659 fire incidents in 2024, of which short circuits were still responsible for 9,069 incidents, or 34 percent.

In 2023, fire incidents rose to 27,624, while electrical faults accounted for 9,813 cases, or 36 percent. The year before, 24,102 fire incidents were logged across the country, of which 9,275, or 38 percent, were caused by short circuits.

The human toll has been increasing every year. According to Fire Service records, short circuit-related fires killed 85 people in 2022, followed by 102 deaths in 2023, and 140 in 2024.

“These are not just statistics. They represent families shattered and futures lost due to preventable causes,” said Md Shahjahan Sikder, officer-in-charge of the FSCD media cell.

The financial damage caused by these fires has fluctuated sharply. Losses linked to short circuit-related incidents stood at Tk 134 crore in 2022 before massively surging to Tk 436 crore in 2023. Although losses declined to Tk 280 crore in 2024, DFSCD officials described the trend as unstable and worrying.

Sikder said investigations consistently point to poor-quality wiring, overloaded circuits and substandard installation practices as the main causes of such fires.

Many buildings, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, continue to operate with outdated electrical systems installed without professional supervision, he added.

He further stated that electrical inspections remain rare, while compliance with fire safety codes is weak, especially in older structures and informal settlements.

Industry experts also point to substandard electrical materials as a major factor.

“Many cables lack three-layer insulation, which is designed to prevent overheating,” said Akhteruzzaman,