Prioritise the well-being of our protectors
Despite the critical role played by firefighters who put their lives at risk to rescue victims from catastrophes, it is quite disappointing that the state has failed not only to provide them with due compensation and benefits, but also to equip them properly with safety gear while at work. According to a report in this daily, since independence, at least 47 firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty, with the highest number of deaths taking place at the BM Container Depot in Chattogram's Sitakunda in 2022, which killed 13 firefighters.
Over the years, our increasingly dense urban spaces, the general lack of fire safety measures, and a failure to enforce building rules and regulations have contributed to a surge in fire incidents in the country. Unfortunately, the capacity of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) has not increased at the same pace. Currently, the FSCD has 14,570 members, meaning there's less than one firefighter per 1,000 people in Bangladesh. Sadly, we are not even ensuring proper compensation for them. The compensation they receive from the government and their departmental welfare fund in case of death or injury is inadequate, according to an official quoted by this daily. What's worse is that firefighters do not even have insurance coverage for death, disability, or injury caused while at work. As a result, their families are often left to fend for themselves when a firefighter dies or is maimed.
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Besides, not all members have safety gear, including fire suits and breathing equipment. In many countries, trained volunteers often work alongside career firefighters in fire departments. But if we fail to provide proper equipment even to career firefighters, how can anyone feel encouraged to volunteer for such a risky job? Furthermore, there is the issue of inadequate training, which came into discussion particularly after the 2022 chemical-induced Sitakunda fire.
Reportedly, the new director general of the fire service has promised to take steps to meet some of the challenges the department faces. We hope that the interim government will consider increasing the department's budget to enhance its capacity and manpower, as well as create specialised units equipped to handle catastrophes such as earthquakes. For both man-made and natural disaster preparedness, there is no alternative to fairly compensating and ensuring the safety and training of our first responders, among whom firefighters play a major role.
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