Ten people were killed and six injured when fire swept through Tuptup Resto and Resort at Patuartek in Inani, Cox’s Bazar, on Saturday morning. Six of those killed belonged to one family. The blaze spread rapidly through the three-storey wooden building beside Marine Drive. Its cause remained unconfirmed at the time of writing.
The most troubling question is whether anyone acted effectively on risks already identified. According to the Fire Service, the resort had no fire safety licence and had been flagged as hazardous in June. How, then, was it allowed to continue accommodating guests? What did the owners do after being warned, and did the authorities check whether their instructions had been followed? These questions demand clear answers from those entrusted with oversight.
Wood, bamboo and thatch give coastal resorts much of their appeal. But natural materials do not make a building safe. The promise of an eco-resort carries responsibilities towards both the environment and the people staying or working there. Treating combustible materials to reduce their flammability can help, but cannot substitute for a complete safety system. Before opening, any multistorey accommodation built with such materials must demonstrate that people can escape quickly and safely.
Every resort needs sufficient alternative escape routes, smoke detectors, alarms and appropriate firefighting equipment under an approved fire safety plan. Qualified specialists must assess kitchens, LPG installations and electrical systems. Staff need training and regular drills; guests need clearly marked evacuation routes. Firefighters must have access to the premises and an adequate water supply.
Administrative responsibility cannot end with a warning notice or an inquiry committee. Once hazards are identified, authorities must set deadlines for corrective action and verify compliance. Resorts presenting serious risks must stop accommodating guests until those risks are addressed. Inspection findings and progress on safety improvements across the district’s tourist accommodation should be made public.
The investigation must establish both the cause of the fire and whether owners or supervising agencies neglected their duties. Anyone found responsible must face action. The injured deserve proper treatment, and bereaved families adequate compensation. Guests paying for safe accommodation cannot be expected to shoulder the responsibility for keeping themselves alive.
We mourn those who died, extend our condolences to their families and wish the injured a swift recovery. Allowing known hazards to persist after these deaths would be an indefensible failure of responsibility.
By Salam Abu
Editor
