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The government has decided to relocate the chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka to the capital’s Kadamtali and Gazipur's Tongi area.
In the aftermath of the devastating fire in Chawkbazar that claimed 69 lives, the decision was taken on Wednesday with an aim to prevent such fatal accidents in future.
Earlier, a meeting between business leaders and government was held at the industries ministry on the day. Industries Secretary Md Abdul Halim presided over the meeting, reports bdnews24.com.
Abdul Halim said the chemical storages will be relocated to a six-acre land under Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation beside the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Tongi and a 6.17-acre land owned by the BCIC in Kadamtali’s Shyampur.
“We have decided to move the warehouses in Old Dhaka to those two locations for the time being,” he said.
The authorities are also seeking to remove the chemical warehouses near the Dhaka Match Factory in Narayganj’s Fatulla, the secretary added.
The ministry will arrange another meeting with chemical businessmen to finalise a decision on this matter, informed Abdul Halim.
“We will acquire the necessary space for the relocation,” he said.
Referring to the possibility of constructing two installations spanning 400,000 square-feet in Tongi and Kadamtali, the secretary said, “We will begin works in earnest. There are currently two warehouses near the match factories in Shyampur.
“We can relocate the chemical warehouses there after a few minor repairs to those two storage,” he added.