Toxic chemical fire triggers public outrage
A devastating fire broke out at an illegally dumped chemical waste store in Koitola Sluice Gate Bazar area in Joynagar village under Bera Upazila of Pabna district on Saturday.
The fire made panic among local residents while the flames soaring up to 30–35 feet alongside thick black toxic smoke which was visible from far areas.
Fire Services and Civil Defense sources said, the dumped chemical waste had huge highly flammable things including battery recycling, acid mixtures and plastic casings that intensified the fire’s spread.
They said, the blaze broke out around 3:00 PM and they came at 3:30 pm. The fire was brought under control after one hour.
The incident has exposed the proliferation of unregulated chemical processing activities in residential area.
Local people informed this correspondent that the dumped chemical store owner is Md. Sanaullah (35) of this village.
They also claimed that multiple operators are running this kind of businesses without taking any safety measures, releasing toxic fumes and discharging contaminated waste into nearby water bodies and agricultural land.
Residents demanded urgent initiatives from authorities to shut down illegal businesses, addressing long-term health risks and protecting local ecosystems as well as environmental disaster and increasing risk to public safety.
