Over a decade has passed since the devastating inferno at Nimtoli in Old Dhaka, which killed 126 people and injured about 200 others. The fire was triggered by flammable chemicals stored on the ground floor of a residential building. The tragedy carried a clear lesson: chemical factories or warehouses must not be located in residential areas. In fact, the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act does not permit such operations. Yet, the presence of hundreds of chemical factories in various parts of the old town indicates that no lessons have been learned.
Despite repeated assurances from the authorities, hazardous chemical warehouses and factories have not been relocated from Old Dhaka. This persistent delay has left residents in a constant state of fear, as previous tragedies, including the Nimtoli fire in 2010 and the Churihatta fire in 2019, have demonstrated the devastating consequences of housing such facilities in congested areas.
Following the Nimtoli disaster that claimed 126 lives, the government initiated four projects to shift the chemical, plastic, printing, and electronics industries from Old Dhaka. However, except for one, these projects remain incomplete even after 14 years. Bureaucratic red tape, land acquisition complications, and lack of urgency from the authorities have resulted in this apathy and inaction, allowing hazardous industries to operate in violation of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules-1997, which strictly prohibit such activities in residential areas.
A 2019 survey by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) identified 1,924 chemical warehouses in Old Dhaka, with 98 per cent of them classified as "moderately risky". However, the authorities have failed to update this list, and in reality, the number is likely much higher. Many residential buildings are illegally rented out as chemical storage facilities due to lax enforcement and oversight. While the DSCC stopped issuing new licences and renewing old ones after the Churihatta fire, this has done little to curb the illegal operations that continue unchecked. In various areas chemical drums are seen stockpiled in open spaces, posing a high risk of fire accidents. Flammable chemicals are stored on the ground floor of many residential buildings. These stores and shops lack even the basic fire safety equipment, like extinguishers, let alone a complete fire fighting system. Moreover, the streets of the old Dhaka are so narrow and inaccessible that firefighting vehicles cannot reach many of the buildings there.
Chemical traders claim they are ready to relocate but insist that the government must facilitate their resettlement, as per a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2017. Both the Chemical and Perfumery Merchant Association and the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association have expressed frustration at the slow pace of relocation efforts, citing unreasonable land prices and administrative hurdles as major obstacles.
The construction of the BSCIC Chemical Industrial Park in Munshiganj's Sirajdikhan, which is supposed to provide a safe alternative for these hazardous businesses, has made 73 per cent progress. However, road and drainage infrastructure remain incomplete, delaying the relocation timeline further to at least 2026. A temporary facility in Shyampur, completed in June 2024 for 54 warehouses, has also failed to gain traction, with only two warehouses rented so far due to traders' reluctance.
Similarly, the relocation of plastic factories has faced significant delays. Approved in 2015 with a 2020 completion target, the project in Munshiganj's Sirajdikhan has been repeatedly postponed, with the latest deadline set for 2025. The situation is even worse for the printing industry, where physical work on the BSCIC Printing Industrial Estate Project is yet to begin due to unresolved land acquisition issues. Meanwhile, the electric goods relocation project is the only one that has been completed, demonstrating that progress is possible when there is genuine commitment from all stakeholders.
The failure to expedite the relocation of chemical warehouse is not just a matter of administrative inefficiency; it is a gross negligence that endangers lives. The government must prioritise this issue by cutting through bureaucratic hurdles, ensuring fair land pricing, and enforcing strict penalties on illegal chemical storage in residential areas. Every day of delay heightens the risk of another catastrophic fire, and without immediate intervention, Old Dhaka remains a ticking time bomb.
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