New building in Bangabazar if traders want: Mayor Taposh

The Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has said that his office will proceed towards the construction of the new building in the place of the recently burned down Bangabazar market if the affected traders want.

"Once the construction commences, it will be completed quickly," the mayor told the media after a meeting of the DSCC Disaster Management Committee held at Mayor Mohammad Hanif Auditorium in Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday.

Mayor Taposh said the prime minister has also ordered the construction of new buildings in Bangabazar.

The Dhaka South will form volunteer teams with a minimum of 200 members in each ward, the mayor informed the media. "We want to ensure that these teams are ready and able to respond immediately after any disaster."

These teams will include Scouts, members of BNCC, and Red Crescent aged between 16 and 30 years. The security guards of the markets will also be included in these teams.

The teams will be formed by 30 May, he added.

He also said that necessary money will be allocated in the budget of Dhaka South from the next budget for the training and exercise of volunteers.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are working to find any possibility of sabotage in the Bangabazar fire, the mayor said, replying to a question on the issue.

Fire Incidents of fire have reduced from what was seen during Ramadan, he said. "We were alarmed by the occurrence of fires every day. We talked about implementing our recommendations at the field level in fire control."

He said that disaster preparedness practice for rescuers will be brought under a regular schedule and a central control room or one-stop centre will be launched by next June.

Furthermore, there will be a separate allocation for disaster management in the upcoming budget with measures for assisting the victims, he added.

The Dhaka South mayor said VIP movements often hamper rescue operations and a policy is needed to stop this problem. Besides, a special committee would be formed to restore the ponds and reservoirs in different parts of Dhaka.

Meanwhile, Rajuk has identified 42 buildings in Dhaka South as "risky" and has recommended 197 buildings to be renovated.

"Rajuk will hand over the list to us in the next seven days and prompt action will be taken," the mayor said.

At the meeting, the committee discussed various accidents and post-disaster rescue operations with the authorities concerned.

The committee meeting will convene again after 90 days, which will be held every quarter from now on.