Govt won’t tolerate warehouse of corrosive chemicals in old Dhaka after Aug 17: Industries Minister

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) - In a reminder to the businessmen of old Dhaka,
Industries Minister Dilip Barua on Tuesday said the government would
not tolerate coexistence of highly risky chemicals with people after
August 17.
Despite a request from businesspeople for time, he asked them to
relocate their warehouses of dangerous and corrosive chemicals from
old part of the city by August 17 for the sake of public safety.
“We don’t want to fall into a fresh deathtrap…we don’t want to take
any risk. So, you have to shift the risky chemical warehouses by the
deadline; otherwise, we’ll take legal action,” Barua said recalling
the devastating scenario of Nimtali fire in old Dhaka that claimed
over 127 lives.
The Industries Minister expressed his firm stand while speaking as
chief guest at a seminar titled “Present Scenario of Old Dhaka
Business and What’s to be Done” held at the seminar hall of
Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) in the city.
Bangladesh Chamber of Industries arranged the seminar with its
president Shahedul Islam Helal in the chair.
State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam, chairman of the parliamentary
standing committee on Industries Ministry Zahid Malek MP, Dr Mostafa
Jalal Mohiuddin MP and Director General of Fire Service and Civil
Defence Brig Gen Abu Naim Md Shahidullah also spoke at the seminar as
special guests.
Minister Barua said the government would resolve the problems of
businessmen in Old Dhaka gradually. “We’re aware of your problems. It’
s not possible to resolve those overnight. We’ll cooperate with you
within our capacity.”
Addressing the seminar, State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam sharply
criticized the role of businesspeople, saying that they did not take
any significant step as they had pledged before.
“You’re still coexisting with the highly dangerous chemicals. You
gave the word to shift those warehouses but you did nothing. It’s not
acceptable,” he said asking the businesspeople to immediately
relocate the chemical warehouses elsewhere.
The state minister said the government would soon give you a
guideline indicating what type of chemical warehouses will have to be
relocated. “If you don’t follow it, the government won’t spare you.”
He also said that the factories which do not have own effluent
treatment plants should be shut down.
Earlier, in the open discussion session, President of Bangladesh Shoe
Dealers Association Khoka Sikdar demanded a separate zone for
relocating the risky chemical warehouses.
A businessman of old Dhaka, Abdus Salam said they need a specific
guideline from the government regarding storage of chemicals to run
their business without any hassle.
Managing Director of Bikalpa Pharmaceuticals Ltd Md Balayet Hossain
said the entire chemical business community is passing a hard time.
There has been a drop of nearly 40-60 percent in import of chemicals
in the recent days as panic gripped the sector.
Wrapping up the discussion, BCI president Shahedul Islam Helal sought
time from the Industries Minister till the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr to
relocate the chemical warehouses from the old part of the city.
END/UNB/AKM