Five-storey building tilts during construction in Mymensingh, forcing residents to flee

Police say residents were evacuated after the building began leaning during nearby construction work

A five-storey residential building at Mymensingh city’s Gulkibari has tilted dangerously during construction work on a neighbouring high-rise, triggering panic among residents and forcing both the owner and tenants to flee their homes.

According to locals and the building’s owner, the incident occurred during piling work being carried out by Greenland Developer Private Limited, which is constructing the 20-storey structure next to the affected building.

They said the five-storey structure began leaning as the piling progressed.

The developer denied responsibility, claiming the building did not tilt due to piling and that it leaned for “some other reason”.

By around 9:30pm on Saturday, visible cracks had developed along the front and sides of the tilted building. Police and fire service personnel visited the site and instructed the developer to carry out earth filling to stabilise the structure and prevent further movement.

Tenant Sheela Rani said residents left their homes in fear after the building suddenly tilted.

“On the administration’s instructions, we vacated the building in panic. We are going back to our village now and will return only if the situation becomes normal,” she said.

Rafiqul Islam Liton, the brother of the building’s owner, alleged that the developer had been working in an unplanned manner for several months.

“Because of this, our five-storey building has tilted. Cracks have opened up at the front and sides, and the building could collapse at any moment,” he said.

Kotwali Model Police chief ASI Lal Mia said residents were evacuated immediately after the building began leaning.

Greenland Developer engineer Abu Sayeed reiterated that piling was not the cause but said the company was adding soil support as instructed by the authorities to prevent further tilting.