Fire service capacity enhancement underway with new stations, ambulances: Home minister

Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (19 May) said
the government is working to strengthen the capacity of the Fire Service and
Civil Defence by increasing manpower, establishing new stations, and
implementing modernisation projects across the country.
Speaking at the Passing Out Parade
and Medal Award-2026 ceremony at the Purbachal Multipurpose Fire Service
Station, the minister said the existing 538 fire stations were not sufficient
to meet the country's growing demands in tackling fires, natural disasters, and
accidents.
"The Fire Service must be
modernised and updated to tackle fire extinguishing, natural disasters, and
accidents in the country," he said, adding that the government had taken
various steps to improve the agency's operational capacity.
The minister said work on 20 projects is currently underway, including the
establishment of a training academy for Fire Service personnel in Gajaria,
Munshiganj.
He also said e-fire certificates
had been introduced to ensure quicker service delivery, while awareness
programmes on fire safety were being carried out across the country.
"These activities will
continue," he said.
Paying tribute to Fire Service
personnel who died while performing their duties, Salahuddin Ahmed said,
"52 members of the Fire Service have been martyred while tackling fire
accidents. We pay our respects to them."
Referring to the Fire Service slogan – "The sole pledge of fire-fighters;
we shall safely protect property and life" – he said the government has
plans to further modernise the service.
Narayanganj-1 lawmaker Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu and Senior Secretary of
the Ministry of Home Affairs Monjur Morshed Chowdhury attended the programme as
special guests.
Director General of the Fire
Service and Civil Defence Directorate Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal
presided over the event.
Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiful Islam, Additional Superintendent of
Police Mehedi Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Rupganj Police Station AHM Salahuddin
Ahmed, and senior Fire Service officials were also present.
















