Dhaka: BNP on Saturday alleged that the government has failed to modernise the Fire Service and Civil Defence with modern life-saving equipment as it has only enhanced the capacity of law enforcers to ‘suppress the opposition’.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also said many lives could have been saved had the fire service been modernised, reports the UNB.

‘The government didn’t take any step to equip the fire service with modern equipment to extinguish fire and rescue people. The fire service lacks sophisticated life-saving equipment and management. But many modern lethal weapons have been procured to suppress democratic movements. Expensive and modern equipment have been bought to kill people,’ he observed.

The BNP leader also questioned as to why the government has no interest in spending money to save people’s lives when it can launch a satellite into orbit. ‘The country’s people think Sheikh Hasina-government is responsible for the loss of huge lives in Banani’s FR Tower.’

He praised the frantic efforts by firefighters in rescuing people from the fire-hit FR Tower, but they failed to save more lives for lack of modern equipment. ‘Developed countries now use ultramodern equipment to douse fire and rescue people.’

Rizvi said the government procured modern teargas shells, smoke grenades, sound grenades, rubber bullets, pepper spray and many other costly modern deadly weapons and equipment to suppress opposition and democratic struggles.

He also alleged that 30,000 modern 12-bore shotguns and 30,000 cartridges were bought spending several thousand crores of taka.

Besides, the BNP leader said electric chairs, modern tele-tapping devices and audio-video recording devices were also procured for law enforcers. ‘The law enforcers were provided with helicopters with an evil intention. But they (govt) are least bothered about saving people’s lives.’

He also expressed deep concern over the fire incident at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) kitchen market at Gulshan, just two days after a deadly fire in the city’s Banani area.