Chemical factory in residential area
Why is relocation given short shrift?

The incident of toxic gas leakage from a pipe at a chemical factory in the city has proved extremely harmful. This has rendered sick no less than 100 people including factory workers, rescue workers and residents of the area. It is a stark reminder of how vulnerable the urban dwellers are to the risks posed by hazardous chemical factories located in close proximity to or at the heart of residential areas.

This disaster has happened at the Global Heavy Chemical Limited at Hasnabad in Keraniganj, which manufactures bleaching powder, caustic soda and chlorine gas. What alarms us most is that the factory did not have precautionary measures in place to extinguish fire or cope with other accidents triggered by toxic chemicals. The resultant exposure to gas such as chlorine badly affected the respiratory system and could cause lung damage. This was topped off by environmental hazards such as early wilting of trees, as was demonstrated in the aftermath of the incident. And if it was not for the prompt action of the Fire Service and Civil Defence teams, the incident could wreak a lot more havoc on the workers and the residents of the area. The efficiency with which they plugged the leaks is cheery news deserving thanks.

Casualties bring to mind the gory death scenes of the Nimtoli incident about two years back, which was clearly a consequence of allowing toxic chemical factories in crowded residential areas in violation of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). In such incidents, particularly the one that happened in Keraniganj, safety of workers and residents should deserve utmost priority.

The issue boils down to immediate enforcement of the BNBC. Will the government act before another Nimtoli or Keraniganj-like disaster strikes again?