Action if safety not ensured in development projects: DNCC mayor 

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam has expressed discontent over a lack of adequate security measures on part of those implementing development projects in the capital.

"Although security measures have been repeatedly called for, no one is paying heed to the matter. While cranes are lifting goods, vehicles are moving underneath. Where is the safety here?" the mayor said while speaking at a meeting at Nagar Bhaban on Sunday.

It should be ensured not only in words but also in documents, he said, adding the contractors must ensure all safety measures.

"We will inspect sites of ongoing development projects undertaken by different organisations anytime, along with magistrates," said the mayor, adding that action will be taken if any irregularities are found.

"This matter (safety) will be strictly monitored by the DNCC. Action will be taken if this is violated," he added.

The meeting was attended by the directors and heads of various ongoing development projects in Dhaka.

Shafiqul Islam, managing director of Dhaka BRT Company Limited, and Delwar Haider, chairman of National Housing Authority, among others, were also present at the meeting.

Referring to the accident that occurred last Monday where five people were crushed to death when a BRT project's girder fell on a car in Uttara, he said, "I visited the site the day after the incident and found no security measures there. When will the organisations concerned become conscious?"

Mayor Atiq displayed a 10-second video clip that showed goods being lifted by a crane on the elevated expressway in the Shewra area of the capital. Vehicles were moving under the crane as usual without any security measures. 

He further said that State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam took the video on Saturday and sent it to him.

Citing another incident on Saturday when a rod fell on a car at a BRT project site in Gazipur, the mayor said that the government is embarrassed by these occurrences.

"The government should not face such embarrassment. People should not be made suffer," he lamented.

Mayor Atiq said no project can be implemented without ensuring full security.

MAN Siddique, managing director of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, said international standard safety measures are being maintained in the metro rail project. 

"Even foreign engineers visit our sites to review works. They observe the safety issues first," he said. 

He said that accidents have taken place in the BRT project several times. Information regarding those contractors with accident records of more than once should be informed to the relevant countries.

Armana Sadia Haque, assistant professor of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said the city development works need enforcement the most in which the authorities are lagging behind.   

Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) AKM Monir Hossain Pathan said that they were ignorant about any work on 15 August, the National Mourning Day, when it was the government holiday. Even the contractor did not inform the consultants and they continued the work considering it a very insignificant one.

He expressed suspicion about whether there was anything else other than any normal accident. As the accident took place on National Mourning Day, it is being investigated whether anyone has intentionally done this, he added.

"We will inform the Chinese government and the ambassador if necessary," he said.

Rajuk Chairman Anisur Rahman Mia said the development authorities follow safety rules while implementing any construction project. The BRT project lacks adequate safety measures, he added.

He questioned whether there is any solution to public suffering on the Dhaka-Gazipur road as the process to install more girders is underway and digging works at many spots are going on which may take another five years to complete.