Bangladesh: Experts: Millions in Dhaka at risk of fire, earthquake
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Construction and earthquake expert Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, urban expert Prof Nazrul Islam, architect and urban planner Iqbal Habib, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Civil Engineering Department Prof Mehedi Ahmed Ansari attributed the rise in fire incidents to: unplanned urbanization, the violation of building codes, carelessness, an increased use of gas cylinders, and a lack of supervision by the authorities.
They suggested taking immediate initiatives to ensure the safety compliance of city buildings like garment factories.
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Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, a construction and earthquake expert, said a large number of buildings in Dhaka flouted the building code and Building Construction Rule 1996 during construction, putting people's lives at risk.
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"Government agencies, including Rajuk, need to be strengthened to stop the construction of risky buildings as well as retrofit or remove the old risky buildings," Prof Choudhury, the vice-chancellor of the University of Asia Pacific, said.
He pointed out that pressure from foreign buyers after the Rana Plaza tragedy led to safety improvements at about 800 buildings' housing factories.
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