Bahaddarhat flyover collapse
Victims’ families left in lurch
No headway in case against two construction firms
The much-talked about Bahaddarhat Flyover construction is expected to be completed in days.
Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina is likely to open the flyover to traffic on October 12, said
Chittagong Development Authority.
But there has been no headway in 11 months since a case was filed after a 130 feet girder of the under construction flyover collapsed on November 24 last years killing at least 15 people and leaving 50 others injured.
Until now the families of only nine victims were paid compensations.
The police failed to make any headway in the case against 25 accused representing construction firms Parisha Enterprize and Mir Akther Enterprise.
The two firms were awarded the contract though they had no experience of flyover construction.
After the tragedy, the Army Engineering Corps was asked to complete the unfinished flyover.
And the Army’s 17 Engineering Consultancy Battalion took the responsibility to complete the Bahaddarhat Flyover construction.
During a recent visit to the under construction flyover site, Army chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuinya ordered to hand over the completed flyover to the authorities by October 8.
ECB officer Md. Ashraful Islam said that the flyover construction was at its final stage.
He said remaining carpeting would be completed in four or five days.
The police were unable to say when they would be able to charge sheet the accused for the serious lapses leading to the loss of so many lives.
The case investigation officer and officer-in-charge (investigation) of Chandgao police station ASM Shahidul Islam said that the police was trying to find out the exact cause of the girder collapse.
Until now, CDA provided compensation to the families of nine out of 15 persons killed in the girder collapse.
CDA provided no compensation to the injured and left lame following amputation of limbs.
Nosu Mia from Kala Mia Bazar, not far from the flyover lost his son, who was the family’s lone bread earner.
He said the meager help he got was too insufficient for a family’s survival.
Belal Hossain, who needed amputation, said he received no assistance at all though the authorities had assured his rehabilitation.
His father is too old to work and the family depended on his earnings, he said.
CDA deputy secretary Amal Guha said that as no injured person contacted them the CDA could not pay Tk one lakh to each injured individual as planned.
The flyover tragedy occurred when a steel girder collapsed at Bahaddarhat, not far from the port city, at 7.30 PM on the fateful evening.
In December 2010, the CDA began the construction of the 1.4-kilometre flyover at an estimated cost of Tk 1.06 billion for easing traffic congestion at the city’s entrance from the southeast of the district.
The girder collapse led to suspension of traffic movement between the port city and Cox’s Bazaar and Bandarban for days together through the every busy Bahaddarhat Road.
-With New Age input
