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The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has demanded exemplary punishment of those responsible for the devastating fire that claimed 46 lives in a building on Bailey Road in the capital on Thursday night.
FBCCI leaders made the demand after visiting the fire-ravaged building on Saturday morning.
They, however, expressed their commitment to working more closely with the government to ensure robust fire safety standards in commercial establishments.
While talking to journalists, FBCCI Senior Vice-President Amin Helaly said FBCCI was collaborating with the government to strengthen the fire incident protection measures in businesses across the country.
He expressed concerns about the blame-shifting among various government agencies following the recent incident, emphasising that such finger-pointing will not lead to a solution.
Mr Helaly stressed the need for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, advocating for accountability at the conclusion of the inquiry, whether it involves individuals or organisations. Highlighting the substantial contribution of the private sector to Bangladesh's economic growth, the FBCCI leader acknowledged that business establishments still fall short of achieving full compliance with regulations.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the post-incident blame on traders, Helaly argued that issuing notices alone does not absolve government agencies of their responsibility.
He emphasised that legal action could have been taken, but instead, there was indifference, resulting in the current scapegoating of businesses.
Helaly called for government agencies to conduct thorough safety assessments before issuing compliance certificates to commercial establishments, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to ensure public safety.
Describing the fire as a man-made crisis, the FBCCI leader stressed the need for immediate preparations to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.