Four years ago, the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence declared that the Bangabazar Shopping Complex, one of the biggest clothing markets in the country, was at risk of fire.

Yesterday, the market was burnt to the ground.

"We put up a banner on April 2, 2019, after declaring the market highly risky. We gave them [building authorities] notices on 10 occasions," Brigadier General Md Main Uddin, director general of the fire service department, told reporters in front of the market.

The fire service's banner warned all concerned to be cautious as the market was at high risk of fire.

According to fire service's 2018-19 annual report, several major fire incidents, including those at Churihatta, FR Tower, Gulshan DNCC kitchen market and Khilgaon kitchen market, took place between February and April of 2019.

The fire service department in the same year carried out a survey on 3,786 institutions and establishments across the country and found 541 shopping complexes and markets at high risk of fire.

The department later put up banners in front of those markets and the Bangabazar Shopping Complex was the first.

"We did everything possible on our part. But businesses continued [at the complex] even after that," he said.

In 1996, the market was burnt to ashes in another fire. Some other major and minor fire incidents were reported at the market in the following years.

Contacted, Chief Estate Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Russel Sabrin said the market became dilapidated and that's why the corporation took an initiative to construct a modern building complex demolishing the existing structure.

"We appointed a contractor for the construction work. But we couldn't begin the construction as there is a stay order issued by the High Court in this regard following a writ petition filed by businesspeople.

He said the businesspeople wanted to run their businesses as they are doing now.

The DSCC planned a rehabilitation programme for the businesses for the interim period, said Russel.

Visiting the spot yesterday, DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said, "It's [fire] unexpected. We request people not to use the establishments which have been declared risky.

"Those who are using risky establishments are responsible. They should keep the risk factors in mind while using such establishments," the mayor said.

He said using risky buildings forcefully can turn out to be fatal.

Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, said, "There are risks. But what do we do? Should we stop running our businesses? No one came up with alternatives."

Asked about the DSCC's claim of a rehabilitation programme, he said he was not aware of any such rehabilitation plan.