Dont bring destruction using every inch of bldgs: PM
Hasina slams US for issuing red alert
BSS, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday came down heavily on a section of people for their attitude during any fire incident, urging them to change their mentality and help douse the blaze instead. When a fire incident takes place, huge number of people usually gather at the place of occurrence creating obstruction to the fire fighters to extinguish the blaze. Most of them go to see the fire and they take selfie I cannot understand that what happened to prompt them to take selfie, she said.
Not taking photo, they should bring some buckets of water and join the drive to extinguish fire they will have to change their mindset and think about how to help douse the blaze, she added. Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League (AL) president, made the remarks in her introductory speech at a meeting of the AL Central Working Committee at her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital yesterday afternoon.
The prime minister said those construct and use buildings have responsibilities for checking incidents of fire. Its the responsibility of the fire service to extinguish the fire. But those who construct and use buildings have responsibilities so that incidents of blaze do not occur, she said.
I will say that they have also a responsibility, but they dont perform it. If any incident of fire happens, the government is blamed for that, she continued.
Sheikh Hasina said there must have an arrangement for extinguishing the fire while constructing any building and the users of the buildings must have knowledge about what they will have to do during any fire incident.
Most of the buildings are constructed in such a way that there is no fire exit and the fire
exit is closed while making interior decoration. And in the case of the market, the fire exit is used as stores of goods of the shops, she said. The prime minister advised the people not to bring any destruction for themselves while going to use every inch of buildings for profit. Dont bring destruction for yourselves and become penniless while going to use every inch of the buildings for profit, she said.
UNB adds: Sheikh Hasina also sharply criticised the USA for issuing an alert on Bangladesh without citing any reason or giving any explanation. I saw the USA issued a red alert. They didnt inform us why they issued the alert and gave no explanation either, she said in at the ALCWC introductory speech.
Sheikh Hasina said she has already asked the authorities concerned to look into the matter and find out why the US issued the alert or whether they have any information.
If theyve any information about any incident that can happen in the coming days, then its their responsibility to inform us, the prime minister said. They could inform our intelligence agencies so that we could take steps.
Bangladesh contained terrorism and militancy successfully. After one incident were very much alert and our intelligence agencies are working round the clock. If they (the US) have any information, they should inform the appropriate authority, she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is in the top five growth attaining countries and it is natural that those who did not want the countrys independence will not want to see the country advancing smoothly socioeconomically.
They hatched conspiracies in the past, but were advancing and well be advancing. Everyone has to work so that our march towards success continues, she said. The US Embassy on Wednesday issued a fresh alert for its citizens living in Bangladesh.
In light of calls for revenge in the wake of the March-15 terrorist attack against on mosques in New Zealand, we encourage US citizens to exercise heightened awareness of the ongoing threat posed by transnational terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaida, it said in a statement.
Terrorist groups, their associates, and those inspired by such organisations remain intent on attacking US and Western citizens around the world, including in Bangladesh, it mentioned. It also requested its citizens to review their personal security plans as well to be aware of their surroundings.Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners and monitor local media for updates, it added.
