Lack of Fire Service Station Leaves Kushtias Largest Upazila Vulnerable to Persistent Fire Hazards
Photo Collected
DAULATPUR, Kushtia — Residents of Daulatpur, the largest administrative Upazila in Kushtia district, continue to face severe risks from fire hazards due to the absence of a dedicated fire service station, four decades after the area was granted Upazila status.
Covering 461 square kilometers with a population of approximately 500,000, Daulatpur hosts at least 28 marketplaces and five industrial facilities, including large match and tobacco factories. Despite this significant commercial footprint, the region remains without local firefighting infrastructure. When fires break out, emergency responders must travel at least 20 kilometers from the neighboring Bheramara Upazila Fire Service and Civil Defense station, a delay that often results in extensive property damage and loss.
Official records from the Kushtia Fire Service and Civil Defense office underscore the urgency of the situation. Between January and July of this year, 20 fire incidents were recorded in Daulatpur, causing an estimated 2 million taka in damages. This follows a trend of increasing destruction: 27 million taka in losses across 45 fires in 2025, 40 million taka from 56 fires in 2024, and 50 million taka from 60 fires in 2023.
Attempts to establish a local station have stalled repeatedly since 2009. An initial project in the Taragunia Kaipal area failed to progress after land acquisition. In 2022, 82 decimals of land were allocated at Chuamallikpara in Daulatpur Sadar Union for a new facility. Although a signboard was erected, construction never commenced due to a lack of equipment and vehicles. Consequently, the 16 personnel recruited for the station remain reassigned to other districts.
Recent site inspections at the Chuamallikpara plot reveal an overgrown, undeveloped area adjacent to a pond, confirming the project remains in limbo. Residents point to a history of broken political promises regarding the station’s construction. Local victims, such as residents in Kamalpur and Lakshmikhola villages, reported that their homes were destroyed by fire long before Bheramara-based crews could arrive to intervene.
Md. Wadud Hossain, Assistant Director of the Kushtia Fire Service and Civil Defense, stated that the project requires the pond on the designated site to be filled with soil and sand. He noted that a project director has been appointed and expressed hope that the tender process would begin soon.
Following the acquisition of an additional 18 decimals of land from the district administration on August 11, the department now has the required 100 decimals to proceed. Reza Ahmed, the Member of Parliament for Kushtia-1, acknowledged the delays, stating that land-related disputes have been resolved and that he is personally coordinating efforts to secure the necessary funding to expedite construction.
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