Work on chemical warehouse relocation should start now: IGP

The work for relocation of chemical warehouse from old town should start right now, Inspector General of Police Javed Patwary said today while visiting Chawkbazar area of Old Dhaka where fire killed at least 70 people.

“Police will definitely play role in this regard. But before they start work, environment department, city corporation and other authorities concerned of the government, who are supposed to monitor it, will have to take the decision (to relocate),” Bangla daily Prothom Alo quoted the IGP as saying.

He was replying to a query from journalists while visiting the fire-ravaged area of old town around 8:30am.

The IGP said there was a chemical warehouse at the building while some CNG-run cars were also parked in front of the building. The vehicles’ gas cylinder exploded due to the fire, he said.

“Besides, there was a parked vehicle with some gas cylinders inside it, which caused huge explosions. And that’s why, the number of death and casualty are high,” he added.

A fire at a chemical warehouse in old Dhaka's Chawbazar area killed at least 70 people.

Source: thedailystar/Prothom Alo