At least 16 workers were injured as the roof of an under-construction 10-storey building of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment collapsed in Dhaka's Savar yesterday afternoon, fire service officials said.

The injured were sent to Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialised Hospital for treatment.

Yakub Ali, 22, Khairul Islam, 27, and Rashedul Islam, 24, were admitted to the hospital with serious injuries while the rest were sent home after first aid.

"Rashedul Islam was moved to the Intensive Care Unit," said Manzurul Haque, the hospital's on-duty doctor.

Jahirul Islam, senior station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence at the Dhaka EPZ, told The Daily Star that the incident took place around 4:30pm when the construction work was going on at Ganakbari in Savar.

Almost the entire roof of the 10th floor collapsed, leaving the 16 injured, the official said.

Debashish Paul, director general of the establishment, said, "The building is being constructed under a project of the medical institute of our establishment."

He said he was trying to know the details of the incident.