A fire safety check at a market
With the market committee, walking the rows of shops: is there an extinguisher and is it in date, are the ways out clear, is there water and a bucket; then the list goes to the committee, with a request to the fire service for a drill.
- 0/4 people
- About 6 hours
- 25
- points
About this task
In the narrow lanes and packed shops of Chattogram’s old wholesale markets, getting out in a fire is hard. Walking the rows of shops with someone from the market committee, one checklist line per shop: is there an extinguisher, is its needle in the green, the refill date, goods in the walkway, hanging wires, a bucket of water or sand. The summary goes to the committee; a request for awareness and a drill goes to the nearest fire station; boards with 16163 and 999 go up at the entrances.
Why it matters
In crowded markets the shops touch, the lanes are narrow and the goods burn easily, so a fire spreads fast. In April 2023 a fire at Dhaka’s Bangabazar destroyed thousands of shops. If the extinguishers work and the ways out are clear, the first few minutes save a great deal.
What changes after
Checklists for at least fifty shops; a list of what to fix in the committee’s hands; a drill requested from the fire station; emergency numbers at the entrances.
Who can join
Anyone; best with someone trained by the fire service, or a shopkeeper from the market.
Step by step
0 of 3 steps doneHow to do it, in order.About 6 hours across all steps
- 1
The market committee’s consent
Sit with the committee’s president or secretary to fix the day; someone from the committee walks with you.
60 min
Not startedIn hand:Nobody yet - 2
Row by row
One line per shop: extinguisher or not, needle in the green (where there is a gauge), refill date, goods in the way, hanging wires (only noted), a bucket of water or sand.
180 minচেকলিস্ট
Not startedIn hand:Nobody yet - 3
The list and a request
Summary to the committee with a received copy; a letter to the nearest fire station asking for awareness and a drill; boards with 16163 and 999 at the entrances.
120 minবোর্ড
Not startedIn hand:Nobody yet
What you need
- Printed checklists · ১০০ পাতা
- Emergency number boards · ৪টি
When it counts as done
- Checklists filled for at least fifty shops
- The committee’s received copy, and a copy of the letter to the fire station
- Photos of the number boards at the entrances
Proof required
- Photo
- Document
Safety
Do not touch wiring, meters or gas cylinders; just note them. Do not discharge an extinguisher to test it. Never name a shop publicly.
The full guide
What it takes, and how to do it
Never done this before? No matter. The cost, the timeline, who does what, whom to speak to, the day hour by hour, the risks and ready words to send are all here.
- About
- ৳1,200–3,000
- People
- 4
- Time in all
- 6 hours
- Age
- 18 or older
Best timeBefore the dry season sets in, October to December. In the market’s quiet hours, mornings.
PermissionThe market committee’s consent is essential; someone from the committee walks with you. Only a letter of request to the fire station.
What it costs
Prices differ by district and season; this is a 2026 estimate. Keep receipts and put them in the proof.
| What | How much | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Printing (leaflets, checklists or instruction sheets)100 checklist pagesWhere: Photocopy and print shop | 100 checklist pages | ৳2–5 |
| Emergency number boards (flex or tin)4Where: Flex print or sign shop | 4 | ৳200–450 |
| Clipboards and pens4Where: Stationery shop | 4 | ৳60–120 |
| Total (about) | ৳1,200–3,000 | |
Getting ready, step by step
10 days before
- Sit with the market committee; fix the day and who walks with you.
- Finalise the checklist: extinguisher, gauge, refill date, walkway, wires, water or sand bucket.
3 days before
- Tell the shopkeepers why you are coming: for safety, not to find fault.
On the day
- Row by row, one line per shop.
- Number boards at the entrances.
The week after
- The summary to the committee with a received copy; the letter to the fire station.
Who does what
Lead1
Speaks with the committee, writes the summary, takes the letter to the fire station.
Checklist pairs2
One looks, one writes; nobody touches anything.
Photos and records1
Photos with consent, lists, receipts, handing in the proof.
Whom to speak to first
The market committee
- Why
- They have the duty and power to fix things.
- How
- Meet the president or secretary in person; the summary in writing.
The nearest fire station
- Why
- They can run awareness sessions and drills.
- How
- Give a written request together with the committee; keep the received copy.
Shopkeepers
- Why
- Keeping an extinguisher and a clear walkway is up to them.
- How
- Speak with respect; name nobody in public.
The day, hour by hour
- 08:00Meet the committee member, split the checklists.
- 08:30Start row by row.
- 10:30Break; see which rows remain.
- 11:00Remaining rows; number boards at the entrances.
- 12:30A first word with the committee, done.
How to take the proof
- Photos or scans of the filled checklists (shop names covered).
- The committee’s received copy and a copy of the letter to the fire station.
- Photos of the number boards at the entrances.
Common first-time mistakes
- Discharging an extinguisher to test it.
- Posting a shop’s photo on Facebook to shame it.
- Starting alone, without the committee.
What can go wrong, and what to do
A shopkeeper angry or uneasy
The committee member speaks; skip any shop that declines.
Dangerous wiring or a smell of gas
Touch nothing; tell the committee at once; with a gas smell, no flame or switch: clear the area and call 16163 or 999.
Ready words to send
Copy, fill the [brackets], send.
WhatsApp / Facebook invitation
Join a fire safety check at the market! Where: [market name], [area] When: [date], 8 am to 12:30 pm What: with the market committee, a checklist of extinguishers, walkways and water buckets, row by row. Age 18 and up. We touch nothing; we only look and write. To join: send a join request on this task’s page on Desher Kaj, or tell [lead’s name] in this group.
Letter of request to the fire station
Date: [date] To The Station Officer [fire station name] Subject: Request for a fire safety awareness session and drill at [market name]. Sir/Madam, With the [market name] market committee, on [date] we checked extinguishers, walkways and water arrangements in [number] shops. The summary is attached. We kindly ask your help to hold an awareness session and drill for the shopkeepers. No money will be collected from anyone for this work; what is needed comes as gifts in kind or at the team’s own cost. Yours faithfully [Name], team lead [team name], a volunteer team on the Desher Kaj platform Phone: [number] Copy: President, [market name] market committee
After it is done
- Check again with the same list after six months; post what changed.
- If a drill is held, add its date and photos to the task page.
Questions people ask
How do we tell if an extinguisher is in date?
The extinguisher carries a label with its refill or test date; if it has a gauge, the needle should be in the green. If in doubt, just note it; the supplier or the fire service will check.
What comes first in a fire?
Shout to warn everyone, get out, call 999 or 16163. No water on an electrical fire; switch off the main if you can.
Can I join if I cannot stay the whole time?
Yes. Say in your request which step or which hours you can do. The lead will give that step to you.