Despite the recent deaths of five commuters at this BRT construction site in Dhaka’s Uttara, the authorities are yet to pay any heed to the calls for ensuring people’s safety as this photo taken at the same spot on Sunday shows– TBP Photo

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam expressed discontent with those related to the contractors of the projects in the capital for the lack of adequate security measures.

Mayor said in the case of security, no negligence will be allowed and will inspect sites of ongoing development works undertaken by different organisations along with magistrates and punish if any security breach find.

No project can be implemented without ensuring full security. Meetings on safety issues should be held on daily and weekly basis. “No safety, no work. Workers will stop work if security is not guaranteed,” he added.

He came up with remarks in a meeting at DNCC office in the capital on Sunday while directors and heads of different projects running in Dhaka city were present.

Regarding the incident last Monday where five people were crushed to death when the BRT project's girder fell on a car in Uttara – he said, "The day after the incident, I visited the site and did not see any security measures. When will the concerned organisations become conscious?"

He also showed a video clip where goods were being lifted by a crane at Elevate Expressway project constriction site in the capital while vehicles were moving on the road. The video was taken by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam who sent it to him.

The mayor said that several times government has asked the contractors to ensure security measures at the sites but nobody paid any heed.

Even an iron rod fell on a moving car from BRT construction site on Saturday in Gazipur.

“We have not yet moved, and how many lives will we need to move? The government cannot be embarrassed; the people cannot be made to suffer by doing these," he said.

Speaking to the occasion, Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) AKM Monir Hossain Pathan said, they should not tolerate an international contractor continuing construction work without safety measures and that would result in death.  

Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique drew the example of MRT project where no such incident took place so far.

He said they worked systematically including holding meetings with stakeholders, and foreign and local engineers so that safety issues are not compromised. “If you see, we modified roads and set up diversions under the metro rail lines as required during construction”, he added.

Among others, Managing Director of Dhaka BRT Company Limited Shafiqur Rahman, Chairman of Rajuk Anisur Rahman Mia, Chairman of National Housing Authority Delwar Haider were present on the occasion.