Police, Rajuk say no arrangement in place for monitoring
There are visibly no authorities in the construction sector to enforce rules preventing occupational hazards, although several hundred people die in and around building sites every year.
Had the authorities concerned compelled the owner of 15-storey under-construction Sagupta De Khan to take safety measures, HSC examinee Habibur Rahman Munna, 18, would not die on Saturday in the capital. Like Munna, 59 others died between January and April this year because of the construction authorities’ callous disregard for human life.
Both police and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) say they have no arrangements to monitor the huge construction sector to ensure security of both workers and the public.
They however say they carry out investigations following such accidents in the construction sites.
Sheikh Abdul Mannan, joint secretary and member (planning) of Rajuk, said, “We have no staffs or wing to monitor safety measures at construction sites. We can only monitor whether construction is going on as per the approved architectural plans.
“However, if we receive any compliant regarding safety measures, we definitely look into the matter,” he added.
Inspector General of Police Hasan Mahmud Khandaker said they also conduct investigations into the accidents. But the force doesn’t have adequate personnel to ensure security measures at the construction sites, the police chief added.
Such an undesired situation prevails as the Bangladesh National Building Code, 2006 still awaits enforcement.
Earlier on October 13, 2010, the High Court asked the government to establish the National Building Code Enforcement Authority in accordance with the code. The HC also asked the government to implement the order within one year into receiving the copy of the judgement.
However, the copy of the order has yet to reach the authorities concerned.
Until the launch of National Building Code Enforcement Authority, respondents have been directed to designate Rajuk, Chittagong Development Authority, Khulna Development Authority, Barisal City Corporation, Rajshahi City Corporation and Sylhet City Corporation as the code enforcement agency within three months of receiving the judgment.
The order was issued after three rights organisations including Safety and Rights Society and Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust filed a writ following the Rangs Bhaban tragedy in 2007.
Rajuk sources confirm they have not yet received the copy of the HC order.
Programme Director Sekender Ali Mina of Safety and Rights Society said 59 people died in different construction sites from in the first four months of this year.
In most cases safety measures were not taken at the scenes of accidents, he observed.
On Saturday, Munna died on the spot as a brick fell on his head from the 10th floor of Sagupta De Khan, a construction site of Sagupta Group, on Panthapath.
Munna fell victim to the neglect of the construction authorities, who took no safety measures although the site is situated in a busy place.
Officer-in-Charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police Syed Ziauzzaman said they visited the scene and found no proper safety measures in place at the under-construction building.
Police and rights activists say if the authorities concerned took safety measures as per the BNBC to check falling objects, Munna would not die.
The OC added they recorded a case under section 304 (A) which brought charges of killing someone by an act of negligence by the authorities concerned.
Sekender Ali of Safety and Rights Society said though the BNBC has yet to be enforced, existing laws can check the situation to a great extent by enforcing the Penal Code sections — 336, 337, 338 and 304 (A).
These sections of the Penal Code can take measures against the persons who cause death by negligence, endanger life or cause injury by acts endangering life or personal safety of others.
-With The Daily Star input
