Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) is going to open a fire safety institute to provide post diploma degree to graduates and trainings to professionals to create skilled human resource to reduce fire incidents in industries. The institute is aimed at creating skilled professionals to reduce fire incidents and other hazards by advocating and providing technical support. A committee of the Buet headed by professor SM Mahbubur Rahman of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department is working on it. Last week, the committee members held a meeting with the stakeholders and sought cooperation from them. In Bangladesh, there is no institution which can provide professional degree on fire safety and protection. Existing professionals are working based on their experience and some trainings, Dr. Ishtiaque Ahmed, adviser of the committee said. There is also no professional degree holders who can properly design a factory on fire safety, said Ishtiaque, also a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering. The country's industry mostly the RMG sector and even the shopping malls are witnessing fire incident only due to faulty designs and causalities are also happening due to lack of proper exit point. Considering all the aspects of fire safety the Buet has decided to set a fire safety institute, said Ishtiaque Ahmed. Primarily, the institute will provide six-month diploma course to graduates and training to existing professionals who are working in different industries. Later, the institute would provide full-fledged professional degree. The institute will be established under the technical and training assistance from the University of Maryland and National Fire Protection Association, a non profitable organisation of the US working to stop fire incidents. The institute will also work on formulating guideline on fire safety as Bangladesh is currently following America's guideline drawn up 20 years back. According to plans, the initiative will entail Tk2.64cr to train up the faculty members and plan a curriculum. A for the financial support, the initiators have met stakeholders including Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Accord on Fire and Building Safety In Bangladesh and Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. Since the project is new and needs training for the faculty members it would cost a lot and we have sought financial support from the stakeholders, said Ishtiaque. If we get the financial support from the stakeholders, we will be able to start working on it within the next six months, he added. “The initiative is a good one definitely,” BGMEA Vice-President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu told the Dhaka Tribune. The initiator has discussed the objectives of the institute extensively and sought cooperation and financial support to set up the institute, said Babu. Talking on the financial support, the issue would be placed before the board members and decision in this regard would be taken based upon the opinion of all. According to Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense Department (BFSCD) approximately 75% of fires in RMG factories are originated from electric short circuit. The issue of fire safety in the country's industry especially in the RMG sector came under spotlight following the fire at Tazreen Fashion that killed at least 117 people and injured about 200 workers. Later, the collapse of Rana Plaza that killed 1,135 workers intensified the importance of fire safety.