Fire Service holds training and drill at Mohakhali's Sat Tola slum in Dhaka

The Fire Service and Civil Defence has held training and a drill at the Sat Tola slum in Mohakhali in the capital to raise awareness about fire prevention, what to do in the early stage of an accident and fire-extinguishing techniques.

The training and drill were held at 8am on Friday (13 November) at the Sat Tola slum, which falls under the Dhaka-17 parliamentary constituency.

At the start, residents were taught fire-prevention steps, what to do first in an accident, how to use a fire extinguisher, and how to put out a fire with a wet thick cloth or jute sack when no extinguisher is available.

A method for extinguishing a gas cylinder fire was then demonstrated and residents practised it themselves.

Fire Service members, slum residents, locals and volunteers then took part in a drill covering firefighting, rescue and first aid. Members of the Baridhara, Tejgaon and Kurmitola fire stations participated.

Speakers at the end included Md Fazlu Mia, senior joint general secretary of Ward 20 BNP, senior vice-president Sharif Bhuiya, and Md Saleh Uddin, deputy director of the Fire Service's Dhaka division.

Fire Service officials later inspected different parts and structures of the slum and carried out public outreach on fire safety among local residents and traders.

Everyone was informed about the Fire Service hotline number 102 for quick help in a fire or any accident, and stickers bearing the number were placed at various locations.

Assistant Director Kazi Nazmuzzaman, Zone Commander Faysalur Rahman, Md Abdul Mannan and officials of different ranks were present.