Safety inspection at Dhaka commercial buildings begins
Earlier, 108 teams led by Bida inspected over 5,000 factories and industrial establishments across the country
The government has begun a safety inspection drive at various commercial buildings and shopping malls in the capital.
Using an 82-question checklist, inspection teams, led by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), started drives in Dhaka North and South areas on Monday.
Some 11 integrated inspection and monitoring teams will examine 1,072 buildings in phases. The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) is providing overall support to the inspectors, said a press release.
On Monday, the Gulshan Pink City Shopping Complex in Dhaka North and the Gausia Market in the South were inspected by Team-6 and Team-9, respectively.
Addressing the members of both inspection teams on the eve of the inspection, Md Nasir Uddin Ahmed, inspector general (IG) of Dife, "To identify structural, electrical, fire safety and other defects of the establishments, you will scrutinise the establishments sincerely and in cooperation with the establishments' authorities."
Make sure that the inspection report reflects the true picture of the establishments. Further action will be taken based on the inspection report, he added.
Bida Executive Member Avijit Chowdhury told The Business Standard, "Several issues in these commercial establishments will be closely monitored, which include design fault, firefighting facilities, environmental pollution, condition of electricity and gas lines, condition of generators and boilers if there is any."
A national committee, headed by Salman F Rahman, private industry and investment adviser to the prime minister, was formed to improve the working environment and safety of factories across the country after a fire broke out at Hashem Foods Ltd in Narayanganj in July last year.
The national committee has a meeting in July. We will send our recommendations before the meeting. The committee will make the final decision, Avijit Chowdhury added.
Earlier, 5,208 factories and industrial establishments, excluding the ready-made garments (RMG) factories, across the country were inspected by 108 teams led by Bida under the direction of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
