A single agency for fire related inspections on cards

The government is contemplating to set up a single agency to integrate all types of inspections related to fire, building structure, environment and other issues to ensure fire workers and factory workers' safety and other compliance of standards.
Adviser to Prime Minister on private sector and investment Salman F.Rahman said on Friday. He said the activities of all existing inspection agencies will be integrated with the new agency to ensure better coordination and services.
He made the observation at a virtual press conference adding that 'The government will amend the law and if necessary will setup a new inspection agency in this respect. Currently, 10 to 12 agencies are taking care of inspection activities.
Salman F Rahman held the press conference after the PMO formed a 24-member national committee, headed by him to work out remedial measures to prevent fire and other accidents at industrial plants and to ensure a safe working environment, particularly at domestic market-based factories.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) will coordinate the inspection. The initiative came following a fire at Hashem Foods factory in Narayanganj killing at least 52 workers. The committee also has been asked to recommend preventive measures after inspecting all factories. Salman F Rahman said the national committee would make short-term, medium and long-term recommendations to make local industries compliant with workers' safety and workplace standards. In the first stage, BIDA inspection teams will start inspecting factories..
Representatives of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments and other inspection agencies, experts who worked with Accord and Alliance agencies on industrial safety, among others will be included in the inspection teams.
The national committee will hold its first meeting after lifting of the movement restrictions to decide its next steps.
The government is very serious about preventing accidents in factories and commercial establishments and ensuring a safe working environment. The Rupganj fire incident has severely damaged the country's image as many international media houses, including the New York Times, published reports on the issue, he said.
The country has succeeding in ensuring compliance in export oriented RMG factories and it will have to achieve similar success at domestic market-oriented factories, he said.
BIDA executive chairman Mohammad Sirazul Islam said they would arrange first meeting with public and private sector stakeholders on Monday to decide on the immediate action plan.
FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin said that it was high time to pay attention to compliance issues in the local industry as the country had managed to ensure compliance in the RMG sector.