Md. Badiuzzaman Tuhin, Correspondent Noakhali:
Fire Service and Civil Defense Week was celebrated in Noakhali with various arrangements under the theme 'Reduce accidents and disasters and build Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla'. Various exercises including discussion meetings and firefighting were held on the occasion.
Noakhali Deputy Commissioner Dewan Mahbubur Rahman inaugurated the program in the morning (November 16). Later, a discussion meeting was held.
In addition to members of the Fire Service, Red Crescent, Scouts, and students from various educational institutions participated in the discussion meetings and exercises.
Deputy Commissioner Dewan Mahbubur Rahman was the chief guest at the discussion meeting chaired by Assistant Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense Noakhali Md. Toufiqul Islam Bhuiyan.
The special guest was District Superintendent of Police Md. Shahidul Islam, while Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department Sa'd Mohammad Andalib was present.
The Assistant Director of the Fire Service said that from January to October this year, a total of 724 fires have occurred in the district, including 118 from gas stoves, 232 from electrical short circuits, 103 from bidi-cigarettes and 271 from various causes including lightning. Fire service members have recovered goods worth about 311.73 crore taka from these incidents. In addition to the 9 fire stations in the 9 upazilas of the district, work is underway on another station at Jobair Mia Bazar in Subarnachar and Uday Sadhur Hat in Sadar, and a temporary station has been set up at Hatiyar Bhasanchar. Fire service members are working tirelessly to serve the people.