Editorial
Saving buildings from quakes
Code implementation crucial
We understand from the minister for food and disaster management that the government will bring all the new buildings across the country under Bangladesh national building code standardization (BNBC) to minimize the fatalities from earthquake. Although we would like to take the decision on a positive note, we cannot help feel skeptical because of the ground realities pertaining to implementation status on a number of existing codes.
We are talking of a national programme whereas in the capital city itself the building code is extensively violated under the very nose of authorities. While this is happening at the seat of administration and at the hub of business including real estate activities, how can we expect that a national programme of building code implementation will meet with success?
A glaring example of flouting construction code is provided by how poorly implemented has been the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) which did zoning prohibiting construction activity in certain earmarked areas.
Also, government's relaxation of height restrictions provided that a land-owner or a builder leaves some specified portion of his plot out of his construction plan has been purposely taken undue advantage of.
We believe the codes and rules are all in place but what is of crucial importance now is their implementation. This must begin with the capital city itself where the need is the greatest if we are to save buildings from the onslaught of earthquakes of moderate to slightly higher magnitude. For the established notion is that most of the buildings in Dhaka city will collapse in the face of any serious earthquake.
Our vulnerability to earthquake is all too known. And if we are to prevent fatalities then we have to energetically and unfailingly render the city buildings reasonably earthquake-resilient. Otherwise, talking big about a national programme will only be meaningless, misplaced rhetoric.
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