Editorial
Building collapse
Gross negligence of all concerned
The collapse of a six-storey building while being demolished in old Dhaka, on two other adjacent buildings, is a glaring instance of utter negligence and callousness. Of those to blame for Tuesday's mishap, first comes the contractor and then the owner, Rajuk and DCC.
The incident is another instance of how unsafe the buildings of the city have become, while those entrusted to ensure their safety appear to be indifferent. A number of questions arise in this connection. Who is the contractor? Why did he employ unskilled workers to knock down a huge building that is in itself a risky, technical task?
Reports further have it that no permission was sought from Rajuk before starting the demolition work. Worse yet, the building being demolished had sprung up without approval of Rajuk. One is appalled at the level of recklessness and folly of all those involved in the incident. It is good luck that no one got killed, but given the circumstances things could be worse.
There are umpteen other incidents of building collapse with severe casualty reports. And it is not also in the remote past that a five-storey building had collapsed at Begunbari in the city in June 2010 killing 20 people. The collapse of two dilapidated public buildings in Narail in December 2011 is yet another example.
The latest incident should be yet another wake-up call for Rajuk, the city corporation and the district administration. Rajuk, in particular, will have to ensure that the builders make necessary plans before construction of a new structure and strictly observe building codes, and no building is demolished without due permission and involvement. In the case of Tuesday's mishap in old Dhaka, the law-enforcement authorities should bring the owner and contractor of the collapsed building to justice and make examples of them.
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