Chittagong, Nov 26 (bdnews24.com)—Police on Monday began investigating 25 people, including the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Executive Engineer, over the casualties from the collapse of three girders of a flyover.
Sub-Inspector Abul Kalam Azad filed the case on Monday night with Chandgaon Polie Station against them for their alleged negligence of duty causing the deaths.
Apart from CDA Executive Engineer Habibur Rahman, the Director of the project to build the flyover at Bahaddarhat, the accused include the officials of the joint contractors Mir Akhtar Hossain Limited and Parisha Trade System Limited and consultant SARM Associates Limited.
Many other unidentified people were also accused in the case, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Panchlaish zone) Manzur Morshed told bdnews24.com.
"Habibur Rahman has been made the chief accused," he added.
CDA has already suspended three of its engineers, including Habibur.
At least 13 people were killed when the girders fell on them. Another one had been injured in a similar incident several months ago.
There has been allegation that the flyover is being built without any safety manoeuvre.
'Exemplary punishment'
State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan visited the site.
"The investigation committee of the ministry will submit its report within a week. The people responsible for the incident will be identified in the report and they will be given exemplary punishment so that no more casualties take place," he told reporters.
CDA has also formed a five-strong panel to investigate the accident.
Chittagong district Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan and CDA Board Member Mafizur Rahman were with the State Minister during the visit.
"I am surprised at the demand made for trial instead of rescuing the ailing people," the State Minister said.
"There is news behind news. It will be seen whether the incident was a normal one," he said.
"Keep faith and believe in us. The government will not hesitate for a moment to identify and punish the people responsible," he added.
Mohiuddin's ire
Awami League's Chittagong City unit chief and former Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury said CDA Chairman Abdus Salam's brother was involved in the construction of the flyover.
He alleged that the people related to the project did not have the capability to build the flyover.
He was speaking with the reporters on a visit to the scene on Monday.
"Those who are not fit have been given the job. When there are people buried under girders, he (Abdus Salam) is speaking loudly to bury the misdeeds," he said.
Salam is the Treasurer of the same unit of Awami League and a rival of Mohiuddin inside the party.
Asked if he thinks that there were irregularities in building the flyover, the former Msaid, "You are watching and I am watching, too. But these can't go unpunished.
bdnews24.com/mc/us/ost/bd/2343h
