DHAKA, – Urging all political parties not to do politics over everything, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said all should resist in unison the persons who construct buildings violating the building code.
“Let us stand beside the victims and forge consensus against the persons who are violating the building code while constructing their buildings,” he told at a discussion at Awami League (AL) office in city’s Dhanmondi.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote (BSJ) organized the discussion marking the Independence Day with eminent actress Sarah Begum Kabori in the chair.
Hasan, also the publicity and publication secretary of the ruling AL, said BNP and Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front are always trying to do politics over everything. “They, after the Banani fire, told that there is no democracy in the country and therefore, the incident took place . . . I don’t know what is the relation between the fire incident and democracy?” he questioned.
He said the owner of the gutted floors is a BNP leader. The law enforcement agencies have already arrested him and are trying to arrest other culprits, the minister said, adding, “Now I want to ask the BNP leaders that who is corrupt? . . . Please don’t do politics for everything.”
Hasan said as per the BNBC, the installation of fire extinguishing system is mandatory in constructing a building, but the BNBC was not followed in building the FR Tower.
“That’s why many people were killed in the Banani fire because of the greed of a building owner. I request all to follow the building code so that nobody is killed in the fire of greediness,” he said.
The information minister said all must follow the building code in constructing infrastructures and should be aware of building construction. “If necessary, all should protest when an infrastructure is built violating rules,” he said.
Hasan said there were only 204 fire stations with 4377 manpower across the country when the Awami League government assumed power in 2008. Now, there are around 402 fire stations with 10,380 manpower.
Besides, he said, the government has taken initiatives to build 198 fire stations across the country while the manpower will be 15,750. “The government has also collected 49 different categories of fire extinguishers. It (government) has also taken initiatives to modernize this sector further,” he added.
About an allegation of BNP leaders for buying military hardware, Hasan said the armed forces would have to be stronger. They are giving the military hardware to the UN mission on rent, he added.
The AL leader said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman liberated the country after a nine-month long bloody war. After the independence, he (Bangabandhu) devoted himself for rebuilding the country and then the country achieved 7.04 percent GDP growth during his regime which was achieved again only two years ago, he added.
The country could become a developed nation if Bangabandhu was alive, Hasan said, adding the country is on the track of development under the dynamic leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists President Molla Jalal, AL city unit publicity and publication secretary Aktar Hossain, BSJ vice presidents and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artist Rafiqul Alam and actress Farhana Amin Nutun, BSJ general Secretary Arun Sarker Rana, singer SD Rubel, AL city unit office secretary Golam Rabbani Bablu, AL leaders Mothachim Billha, Liakat Ali Khan and GM Atiq, singers Bristi Rani Sarker and Madhabi Sarker, among others, addressed the discussion.
