Baily Road Fire: HC orders formation of high-level committee

The High Court on Monday ordered the authorities concerned to form a high-level committee headed by the secretary to the Security Services Division of the Home Ministry to look into the Baily Road inferno that claimed lives of 46 people.

The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque passed the order after hearing two writ petitions.

It also asked the authorities concerned to include representatives of police, Rajuk, Fire Service, Dhaka South and North City Corporations in and Buet experts in the committee.

The committee has been asked to find out the reason and identify the people responsible for the fire incident within four months.

The HC asked the committee to submit a report with recommendations of fire safety measures needed in city buildings.

It also asked the Fire Service authorities to hang a warning notice in visible places of the buildings having fire risk.

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the authorities concerned should not be directed to keep fire extinguishers in schools, colleges, shopping malls and city buildings as per the law.

Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond and Advocate Israt Zahan Santona stood for the petitioners.

Earlier, on Sunday, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directives to close all restaurants in residential buildings in Dhaka including those on Bailey Road.

The petition also sought directives to provide compensation to the family members of the those died and injured in the Bailey Road fire and arrest of those responsible in the fire incident.

Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer, Advocate Israt Zahan Santona, filed another writ petition with the High Court bench concerned seeking judicial investigation into the deadly fire at Green Cozy Cottage Building on Bailey Road.

Secretaries to the Public Works Ministry, Cabinet Division, Home Ministry, Inspector General of Police, Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), mayors of Dhaka North and South City corporations were made respondents in the writ petitions.