Editorial
Chittagong flyover tragedy
Inexcusable lapses
The Chitttagong flyover girder collapse almost coincided with the Savar garment fire shocked the entire nation. It was again another instance of collective irresponsibility on the part of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), firms in charge of construction and consultancy, ministry of works and district administration. This led to the avoidable deaths of 12 people so far.
We recall that another accident of similar type in this flyover took place on June 29, but there was no casualty, if only because the area was free from pedestrians at that time. But the probe body that the CDA had formed to look into that incident is yet to come up with its findings.
This reinforces the impression that an early warning has been ignored. Not only that, the lessons that could be learnt from a properly instituted probe have been unavailable.
The government must hold those responsible to account and amply penalise them for their laxity and failure to maintain needed safety standards in the construction work for the flyover.
CDA has formed another investigation committee following the mishap. So have the Ministry of works and the Chittagong district administration constituted their respective probe teams. Given our previous experiences about such probe committees, we have reasons to be circumspect about them. However, we would like to be proved wrong this time around.
What, however, is of overarching importance is to adopt adequate precautionary and preventive measures so that such mishaps may not occur in the first place.
In the present case, first, the area where girders fell was not closed to public movement by building a fence around the place. Second, the construction company did not issue any warning to the public while carrying out the shifting work of the girders. Third, the CDA whose project it is had apparently no supervisory role when the work was going on. They should have ensured enough precautionary measures in the entire project area for the flyover. Fourth, the district administration was allowing pedestrians, peddlers and others to move about freely and use the place.
Such lapses are inexcusable. The authorities concerned must take necessary steps to avert recurrence of such mishaps in future.
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