A little money can save buildings from quake

Say speakers

1 October 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Ctg

Speakers at a workshop said yesterday it is possible to construct earthquake-resistant buildings by spending only 5-7 percent more money on the original budget. It requires the will of building owners as well as the engineers and architects, they said, adding that the owners push residents to dangerous situations by ignoring building codes. The workshop on "Earthquake Resistant Structure: Planning and Implementation and Building Construction Rule-2008" was organised by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) at its hall room yesterday. GPH Ispat Ltd sponsored the programme. CDA Planner Ali Asraf said most of the school buildings of Chittagong city are at risk of earthquake. Admitting about the structural fault in primary school buildings, Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr Afsarul Ameen said he has taken initiative to solve the problem. He urged the CDA engineers to aware the dwellers about earthquake. CDA Chairman Abdus Salam said the workshop was organised to inform the architects as well as city dwellers about the Building Construction Rule-2008. He alerted the dwellers that like food items, construction materials are being "contaminated". Prof Dr Jahangir Alam, dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), presented the keynote paper at the programme. CDA Chief Engineer Iqbal Hossain and Secretary Kamal Reza, Institutions of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) Chittagong President Mohammad Harun, and GPH Chairman Jahangir Alam spoke at the meeting.