Utility lines of 5 warehouses cut in Old Dhaka

Authorities cut utility lines to five warehouses in Old Dhaka today during the sixth day of drive against illegal warehousing following Chawkbazar fire.

Brig Gen Sharif Ahmed, chief health officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, led the team that disconnected the lines to five warehouses in Bakshibazar.

The warehouses were storing plastic raw materials illegally.

The initiative has been taken following deaths of at least 71 people in a devastating fire there on February 20. Chemicals stored in warehouses fueled the fire.

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Chemicals fed the fire

Four teams of the government taskforce started the crackdown in Old Dhaka around 11:15am from today. So far, the force disconnected utility lines to 76 such buildings.

At least 71 people were killed and scores injured in Chawkbazar fire on February 20, prompting the government to act against chemical factories and warehouses in the area.

Photo: Palash Khan

On February 25, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon announced that a month-long crackdown would be launched against warehouses of “dangerous chemicals”.