Girder tragedy: DNCC mayor halts BRT construction work

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam has suspended the construction works of the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) Elevated Expressway following an incident that claimed the lives of five people, all of a family, on Monday.

The DNCC mayor came up with the announcement after visiting the spot of the crane accident at Uttara's Jasimuddin road on Tuesday morning.

“There should be adequate safety measures in all construction works and public safety should be ensured first. It’s not only about the BRT project, we won’t allow any project without ensuring public safety,” he said.

He also expressed deep shock over the tragedy and said the heavy girder should have been lifted after blocking the busy road by the BRT authorities.

Accidents may happen while working using a crane and the authorities concerned should have kept another crane on standby for the rescue operation and an ambulance. But BRT failed to ensure these, Atiqul said.

“The BRT authorities should have informed traffic police and sought their help to use an alternative road while lifting girder but I have come to know that they did not contact traffic police and all happened due to the negligence of BRT,” he added.

Atiqul also summoned all project directors and announced to hold a meeting over the BRT Project Compliance issue at his office on August 18.

A total of five people including two children were crushed to death and two others were injured after a girder fell on a car on Jasimuddin Road in Uttara.

The deceased were identified as Rubel, 50, Fahima, 40, her sister Jhorna, 28, and Jhorna’s two children Jannat, 6, and Jakaria, 2, said Yeasin Gazi, inspector of Uttara west police station.

Two other occupants of the car could get out with serious injuries and were rushed to a local hospital, according to the police. They were identified as Hridoy, 26, and Riya Moni, 21, according to the police.

The accident occurred around 4:30 pm when the girder of the Gazipur-Airport Expressway fell on the car near Paradise Tower.