It is appalling that hazardous chemical warehouses and factories in Old Dhaka have yet to be relocated, despite repeated assurances following several devastating fires that have claimed hundreds of lives. Over the past 15 years, multiple tragic fires have erupted in Old Dhaka, causing massive property damage and affecting thousands of lives due to the presence of highly flammable substances. After each incident, authorities have promised to relocate these dangerous warehouses and factories. However, those promises remain unfulfilled, leaving residents of these congested neighbourhoods in constant fear.

After the devastating Nimtoli fire in June 2010, which claimed 126 lives, the government initiated four projects to relocate the chemical, plastic, printing, and electronics industries from Old Dhaka. Fourteen years later, all but one of these projects remain incomplete, reportedly due to bureaucratic red tape and complications with land acquisition. Even the Churihatta fire in Chawkbazar, which killed at least 71 people on February 20, 2019, failed to prompt authorities to expedite the relocation process. In fact, the authorities have not even updated the list of chemical warehouses in Old Dhaka.

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Justice eludes Churihatta fire victims

A 2019 survey by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) identified 1,924 chemical warehouses in Old Dhaka, with 98 percent classified as "moderately risky." However, locals believe the actual number is much higher, as many residential buildings are rented out as warehouses due to lax monitoring by the authorities. According to the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules of 1997, industrial units using hazardous chemicals or goods are prohibited from operating in or near residential areas. Following the Nimtoli fire, the DSCC stopped issuing new licenses and renewing old ones for chemical businesses in Old Dhaka. Then, after the Churihatta fire in 2019, the DSCC ceased all chemical trade licensing under its jurisdiction. However, these measures have had little practical impact.

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The ghosts of Nimtoli

Meanwhile, chemical traders argue they cannot relocate unless the government ensures their resettlement, as outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2017. The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation has made 73 percent progress in constructing a Chemical Industrial Park in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj. Additionally, a temporary project in Shyampur, completed in June 2024, provides space for 54 warehouses. However, these efforts have made little headway in relocating chemical warehouses and factories from Old Dhaka. Similarly, the relocation of plastic and other industries has been slow, plagued by the same bureaucratic delays.

All of this demonstrates an unwarranted apathy on the part of our authorities, putting countless lives at risk for no reason. The fact remains that Old Dhaka is a ticking time bomb due to its congestion and the presence of highly flammable substances. And it is entirely unacceptable for the relocation of these chemical warehouses and factories to take nearly 14 years. The authorities must take immediate action to free the residents of Old Dhaka from such extreme risks.