International Fire, Safety and Security Expo begins in Dhaka on November 26

The three-day 10th International Fire, Safety and Security Expo (IFSSE-2026) begins in the capital on November 26. More than 120 institutions from over 20 countries will take part. Alongside the exhibition, five specialised seminars on fire safety and security technology and demonstrations of firefighting and rescue operations will be held. The organisers shared these details at a press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday.

Organised by the Electronics Safety and Security Association of Bangladesh (ESSAB), the exhibition will run until November 28. It will be open to all every day from 10am to 8pm at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

The organisers said the exhibition will showcase modern technologies and solutions across more than 13 product and service categories, including firefighting technology, electronic security systems, CCTV and surveillance technology, access control and industrial safety. They expect more than 20,000 visitors.

At the five specialised seminars, more than 25 speakers will discuss security technology, risk management, international standards and best practices, and the safety of industry and infrastructure.

Speaking at the press conference, ESSAB president Squadron Leader (retd) M. Didarul Islam said the 10th edition is being held in continuation of the previous nine. In earlier editions, an average of 11,000 to 12,000 visitors took part each year, and more than 3,000 people joined seminars and knowledge-sharing activities.

He said safety is directly linked to Bangladesh's industrialisation and infrastructure development. Alongside the readymade garment industry, light engineering, electronics, information technology, leather and footwear, plastics and the toy industry are expanding. To ensure sustainable growth in these sectors, modern fire safety, industrial safety and technology-based protection systems need to be built.

Ensuring safety systems of international standard will increase the protection of industrial establishments, workers, investment and assets, he said. It will also create an opportunity to establish Bangladesh as a safe investment destination.

In his speech as chief guest, Lieutenant Colonel Md Mahmudul Hasan, director (operations and maintenance) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, emphasised coordination and cooperation among all concerned parties to raise fire safety and public awareness in the country.

As one of the expo's main attractions, a firefighting and rescue demonstration will be held with the cooperation of the Fire Service and Civil Defence. It will show what to do during a fire, primary firefighting methods and techniques for exiting safely in an emergency. A special booth will also be set up to raise awareness about the Fire Service's national emergency hotline 102 and to register volunteers.

At the exhibition, the 'ESSAB Safety Excellence Award-2026' will be given in five categories in recognition of contributions to the safety systems of industrial establishments. In addition, family members of firefighters who sacrificed their lives on duty will be honoured with the 'Agnibeer' recognition in their memory.