Mayor Annisul to seek army’s help to save Hotel Sundarban and adjacent area

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq says he will seek the army’s help to prevent any further damage following the cave-in of a street at Karwan Bazar.

“I will seek the army’s help now. The ministry has already cleared the proposal,” Huq told reporters at the collapse site on Thursday.

“I’ll involve them (army) here now,” he added.

The alley beside Hotel Sundarban and its boundary wall caved in on Wednesday, posing a threat to the hotel and adjacent area.

A part of the CR Dutta Road has developed cracks due to the subsidence.

The 15-ft alley between the hotel and the construction site of National Bank Twin Tower caved in and fell into a ditch dug for piling.

Capital’s developer RAJUK and the contractor have been blamed for the incident.

Mayor Huq on Thursday was visibly angry at the lack of sand reinforcement in the ditch to protect the six-storey hotel and its adjacent area.

Following a decision by a committee comprising representatives of the army, Fire Service, City Corporation, RAJUK and others concerned, around 500 trucks of sand had been piled in after 10pm on Wednesday.

Huq spoke to contractor MS Constructions and Development’s Project Director Akhtarul Alam on Thursday morning.

“We are in a tentatively safe zone. It can be declared a fully safe zone if sand is dumped through the day,” Huq later told reporters.

He spoke to Alam again around 3pm when dark clouds covered the sky, indicating an impending shower.

“You could not fulfil your commitment. Not a single truck of sand has come until now,” an angry Huq told Alam.

He also called the owner of the firm Mohammad Salauddin on phone and said, “You have not piled the amount of sand you were supposed to pile.

“If an accident occurs now because of the rain, I’ll hold you responsible."  

Alam later explained to reporters why the sand could not be piled in the morning.

“We were to pile 150 trucks of sand but could not do so as the labourers were resting after piling around 400 trucks of sand in the night,” he said.

He also said the sand could not be piled due to traffic jam.

Before leaving the spot, Mayor Huq said, “It stopped short of being a big accident. We are not dismissing that possibility even now, especially for the pressure on the left side (the area adjacent to Karwan Bazar intersection).”

“We are removing billboards from the place,” he added.

Asked if the RAJUK’s ‘irresponsibility’ led to the accident, he said, “I don’t want to blame anyone now. RAJUK has formed a committee. We’ll also form a committee today. It will be clear why the accident took place once we get the report.”

About the safety measure he said, “I think the risk will decrease if 300,000 cft (cubic foot) sand is piled.”