Authorities cannot evade liability for the accident anyway

On the evening of January 11th, Dipu Sana, an employee of Bangladesh Bank, was returning home after work. While walking in Mogbazar, Dhaka, an unexpected incident occurred – a brick fell on her head, and she tragically lost her life at the scene.

Dipu Sana, even moments before her death, had she contemplated that a brick would cause her demise? Does her 3-year-old innocent child know that his mother will never embrace him again! This brutal incident has left us in shock. Alongside, the authorities' negligence in ensuring the safety of pedestrians near under-construction buildings and flyovers is once again coming to the forefront. Even before the incident of Dipu Sana's death, on October 28, 2022, in Mohammadpur's Dhaka Udyan, a multi-story building under construction dropped bricks, causing the death of SSC examinee Robiul Islam Jihad.

Moreover, the tragic incident of five passengers losing their lives due to a collapsed guardrail on August 15, 2022 in the Uttara area of the capital, where adequate safety and security measures were lacking in the BRT project, had sparked widespread criticism across the country. Numerous instances of fatalities due to such accidents can be cited. The question arises: will the trend of deaths in accidents continue to rise in this manner?

Safety in construction work is not given adequate importance in Bangladesh, and such allegations have been prevalent for a long time. Therefore, even though casualties are on the rise due to incidents involving under-construction buildings, there seems to be no visible commitment to addressing the issue. Those responsible for supervision appear to be indifferent.

Furthermore, even if there are legal proceedings in some incidents, the relatives of the deceased often do not receive justice. However, there is a legal obligation in the laws and building construction regulations to ensure comprehensive safety, including pedestrians.

The Bangladesh National Building Code stipulates that from the beginning to the end of construction, the entire building must be covered with safety netting. Additionally, buildings under construction must maintain a minimum setback of 2.4 meters from the road, ensuring a distance of at least 1.5 meters. It is also mentioned to construct a temporary roof using tin around the perimeter of the building. However, the majority of building owners and construction companies do not adhere to these guidelines.
Often accidents occur due to the use of unskilled labor and negligence to save costs. The departments or institutions responsible for oversight in these matters are also indifferent.

We have observed that whenever such accidents occur, there is a flurry of activity on the part of the authorities, and investigation committees are formed on a large scale.
Legal cases are filed against those responsible, but the legal process is slow, and appropriate penalties against the responsible parties are not imposed. No one readily accepts responsibility, causing immense frustration for the country.

We believe that more collaborative and effective efforts should be taken to ensure the safety and normal movement of people on roads and sidewalks.
Ignoring the issue of safety on the busiest roads of the country, conducting construction work in risky environments is equivalent to committing a crime, and in such accidents, the authorities cannot evade liability in any way!

For improvement in this situation, proper implementation of the law by both construction companies and government regulatory authorities is essential. Alongside, holding relevant parties accountable is crucial. Without these measures, the number of fatalities will continue to rise.