Authorities evacuate tilted building in Dhaka’s Lalbagh amid fear of collapse

The authorities have evacuated a five-storey building in Dhaka’s Lalbagh, which runs the risk of collapse.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 21 Jan 2018, 12:34 PM
Updated : 23 Jan 2018, 06:31 PM

Lalbagh police OC Subhash Kumar Pal said the building on Jagannath Saha Road has shifted and is leaning towards a neighbouring structure.

He said at least 45 people were living in the 10 flats of the building.

A fire service unit was dispatched to the scene around 2:30pm after the possible collapse was reported, Fire Service Control Room duty officer Ziaur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

Soon after, the police and city development agency RAJUK officials arrived at the scene.

RAJUK Zonal Authorised Officer Ashish Kumar Saha said the building appeared to have ‘tilted a bit’.

“It’s clear that two buildings came into contact with each other,” he said to bdnews24.com adding that further details cannot be provided without tests.

The building’s residents are being evacuated to avert any untoward incident, Saha said. “We are sealing off the building and a decision will come after further tests.”

Lalbagh police are assisted the residents in the evacuation.

“They can move in again upon the city authorities’ green light,” said OC Subhash Pal.

The building’s owner Haji Shawkat Ali and his two daughters do not live on the premises.

His grandson Ehsanul Haque told bdnews24.com that they called an engineer two days ago after noticing that the building had tilted.

“The engineer said nothing much has happened. He said he would manage a clearance from the RAJUK, but the police and RAJUK officials have come before that,” Ehsanul said.

He said all the tenants of the building have been evacuated and now engineers from RAJUK and BUET would examine the building.

He alleged the building might have been damaged by a hydraulic machine used in an adjacent steel factory.

RAJUK official Ashish Saha could not confirm whether the rules were followed properly during the construction of the building in 1992.

“It’s an old building. We are yet to check it. In fact, it is impossible to check so many buildings in Old Dhaka.

“We may let you know tomorrow whether the building code was followed properly during the construction of this building,” he said.