DHAKA: The Government Sunday decided to form a taskforce led by an additional secretary for monitoring the unauthorized chemical storehouses in the old city, where a blaze reportedly fuelled by chemicals wrought havoc.

Also, the government decided to form another taskforce under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to examine the old and multistory buildings—against a grim backdrop of a disastrous building collapse and cracks in some others.

Dr Abdur Razzak, food and disaster management affairs minister, said the decisions have been taken at a meeting arranged in the conference room of the ministry.
 
He also informed after the meeting that in both the taskforces the representatives from DCC, DESA, DESCO, DPDC and RAJUK will be included.

“At the same time, the government has decided to establish burn unit and trauma centre in every district and fire-service unit in every upazila,” the minister said about the contingency measures promoted by the two successive tragedies.

Replying to a question, he said the taskforce would examine the outworn and multistoried buildings and submit a recommendation to the ministry.

“As per the recommendations all illegal establishments will be demolished--and everybody will have to follow the building code,” he added.

Cabinet secretary Abdul Aziz, principal secretary of the prime minister’s office Abdul Karim, home secretary Abdus Subhan Sikhder and information secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser, among others, attended the meeting.

BDST: 1755 HRS, June 6, 2010
OB/MR/MMA/MUA