Will Mirpur The Next Hotbed For Fire

Tensions are rising among the homestead of Mirpur slums following the fire events of Bhashantek Slum on 28 th February this year and Mollah Slum last year. Unlike mehrun and parveen of bauniabadh slums, more than one hundred thousand people are living at numbers of shanty houses of Millat, Rahmat, talab camps depriving basic human needs. Dhaka North City Corporation, Ward # 5 is home of more than three lac fifty two thousand people with an area of just 1.341 square kilometers lifting the density of two lac fifty two thousand people per square kilometer. According to Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense (BFSCD) officials, due to its higher density of population and unplanned urbanization put Mirpur among the top areas vulnerable to fire hazards. Fires particularly in slums are common because of the typically flammable building materials in slums, (timber, bamboo etc.) fires ignite and spread easily, especially during the hot dry season (March-May). It is also noted that because of the high density, firefighting and evacuation are very difficult and it is common for slum residents to lose household assets and belongings. Geographically, Mirpur had one of the largest water reservoirs of Dhaka city due to its increasing number of open spaces and numerous lakes, ponds and canals. Rising of unplanned commercial establishment such as garments, industry, market and offices and unapproved high rise buildings have been growing in numbers via filling canals and water sources. Now-a-days it is a matter of great concern among the community and BFSCD officials how will they manage to pull water during an event of fire hazard?

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