Cox’s Bazar, (Barta24.com): In Cox’ Bazar town more than 450 hotels and motels have been set up as the biggest tourists spot of the country is situated on the bank of Bay of Bengal. But these residential hotels-motels have no sufficient fire safety systems. If any fire accident occurs then the concerned will face serious problem in taming the fire.
After visiting some hotels it was found that in each floor where it was supposed to keep 9 fire extinguishers but there are only 4, LPG cylinders are laying hither and thither, not sufficient water in reserve tanks. There is no safe exit to come out if any emergency arises. There is no floor marking. So the hotels are very vulnerable place to live.
The district administration conducted a mobile court in the hotels on last April 1. During the mobile court raid due to faulty system in fire safety Sea World Beach Resort Taka 50 thousand, Best Western Heritage Taka 30 thousand and Wendy Tress Taka 20 thousand were fined respectively. The court warned them to repair the faults in the fire extinguishing system within 20 days otherwise lawful actions will be taken against them.
One tourist from Dhaka Ohidul Islam told Barta24.com that we usually come from Dhaka for pleasure with safety but if there is danger of life risk then why the tourists will come? The hotel owners should repair the faulty fire system to ensure safety. Because the danger will not come serving prior notice.
Tourist couple Nadia-Sumon told that the staircases of the hotels are very narrow so in case emergency it will be difficult to exit quickly. The owners should give attention to these problems and make some alternate exit path.
Chief Engineer of Best Western Heritage Shafiqul Islam told Barta24.com that our hotel arrangement is almost perfect. However there is shortage of water in the reserve tank and the number of fire extinguisher cylinders are a bit less. Everything will be made alright in a very short time, he said.
Executive director of Sea World resort Shahidul Islam told Barta24.com that the raid should be carried on in all hotels and should be a continuous process to keep the hotel owners alert.
Executive Magistrate of district administration Selim Shaikh told Barta24.com the repeated fire accidents across the country these raids are carried on here. If there is any faulty fire safety system in any hotel not only fine but lawful actions will be taken against them.
When contacted the Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, Kamal Hossain told Barta24.com that all departments including the Fire Service to be alert about the fire accidents. If any fire safety arrangement is found faulty in any hotel or any multi-storied building lawful action will be taken against them, he said.