Authorities must take responsibility for the accident

No one knows where, when, or how an accident might lead to someone's death. Last Monday (May 27) at dawn, the little girl was sleeping on her father's chest. Her name was Suraiya, which means beautiful. Suddenly, like a terrible curse, a pile of bricks fell through the tin roof onto her head. The pile of bricks had collapsed from the neighboring under-construction high-rise building. The girl was hit severely on the head and remained unconscious for two days. She passed away last Wednesday (May 29) around 11 AM. This news is now being published in the media. People are lamenting the loss of the little girl. But what can anyone do?

Such news appears in the newspapers quite often. On the evening of January 11, after finishing work, Dipu Sana, an officer of Bangladesh Bank, was returning home. While walking along the sidewalk in Moghbazar, an unexpected brick fell on her head, and she died on the spot. Did Dipu Sana even imagine, just a moment before her death, that she would die from the impact of a falling brick in this way? Earlier, on October 28, 2022, an SSC examinee named Rabiul Islam Jihad died when a brick fell from an under-construction high-rise building on Road 4 in Dhaka Udyan, Mohammadpur. Additionally, due to the lack of proper safety and security measures in the BRT project in Uttara, a girder fell on August 15, 2022, killing five passengers. This tragic incident sparked a nationwide outcry. There are many such examples of deaths caused by similar accidents.

In an editorial published on January 17 in Views Bangladesh, it was written, "Will the series of accidental deaths continue to increase like this?" The complaint that construction safety is not given due importance in Bangladesh is very old. Therefore, even though fatalities increase due to falling equipment from under-construction buildings, there is no one to take notice. Those who are supposed to oversee such matters remain indifferent. Although some incidents result in lawsuits, the relatives of the deceased rarely see justice. Yet, the law and building construction regulations mandate ensuring comprehensive safety, including for pedestrians, during building construction.

The tragic death of another little girl proves the truth of that editorial's words. A 14-story building was being constructed in Dakshinkhan, outside RAJUK's jurisdiction. The building owners were unaware of the nearby tin-roofed house. Necessary safety measures were not taken, and no laws were followed. Otherwise, how could they build a 14-story building when they were only permitted to go up to 6 stories? Who will compensate for the precious child's life lost due to the building owners' negligence? And what compensation could ever suffice?

The Bangladesh National Building Code states that from the start to the end of construction, the entire building must be covered with a nylon net. The construction site must be enclosed with a 2.4-meter-high barrier at least 1.5 meters away from the road. The code also specifies the construction of a temporary roof around the building using tin. However, most building owners and construction companies do not comply with these regulations. Often, accidents occur due to the use of unskilled labor and negligence in order to save money. The government departments or agencies responsible for overseeing these matters are also indifferent.

We have observed that whenever such an accident occurs, the authorities are jolted into action, and a flurry of activities begins. Large investigation committees are formed, and cases are filed against those responsible. However, these cases progress slowly, and the culprits do not receive appropriate exemplary punishment. No one accepts responsibility, which is extremely concerning for the country. These incidents should not be merely considered accidents; they are a form of manslaughter. Therefore, the accused must be brought to justice.