Unsafe Construction: Three workers killed falling off building

Three construction workers, including two siblings and their cousin, died after falling from a 10-storey under-construction building in the capital's Purbachal area of north Badda yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Shahjahan Munshi, 27, his younger brother Sarowar Munshi, 22, and Abdul Kuddus, 25, said Kazi Wazed Ali, officer-in-charge of Badda police.

Shahjahan's another cousin Sarowar, 20, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

“The incident took place around 11:30am when the four workers on a bamboo scaffolding were trying to set up a lift on the top floor of Ihsan Tower. Suddenly the rope snapped and the four fell on the ground,” the OC said.

Kuddus and Sarowar died on the spot and Shahjahan died on way to DMCH. All of them hailed from Kalmakanda area in Netrakona and were residents of GM Bari in north Badda.

The siblings' sister Marzia Begum identified their bodies at the hospital. The bodies were sent to DMC morgue for autopsy.

Marzia said Sarowar's wife is expecting and has already been admitted to a city hospital. “But she is still unaware of this tragedy,” she added.

During a visit to the spot this correspondent found the lift basement under knee-deep water. The victims' sandals were still floating on the water turned red with their blood.

Some broken pieces of bamboo were also seen on the basement where the four workers fell. Three construction workers, including two siblings and their cousin, died after falling from a 10-storey under-construction building in the capital's Purbachal area of north Badda yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Shahjahan Munshi, 27, his younger brother Sarowar Munshi, 22, and Abdul Kuddus, 25, said Kazi Wazed Ali, officer-in-charge of Badda police.

Shahjahan's another cousin Sarowar, 20, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

“The incident took place around 11:30am when the four workers on a bamboo scaffolding were trying to set up a lift on the top floor of Ihsan Tower. Suddenly the rope snapped and the four fell on the ground,” the OC said.

Kuddus and Sarowar died on the spot and Shahjahan died on way to DMCH. All of them hailed from Kalmakanda area in Netrakona and were residents of GM Bari in north Badda.

The siblings' sister Marzia Begum identified their bodies at the hospital. The bodies were sent to DMC morgue for autopsy.

Marzia said Sarowar's wife is expecting and has already been admitted to a city hospital. “But she is still unaware of this tragedy,” she added.

During a visit to the spot this correspondent found the lift basement under knee-deep water. The victims' sandals were still floating on the water turned red with their blood.

Some broken pieces of bamboo were also seen on the basement where the four workers fell.

Anoy Chandra Paul, sub-inspector of Badda police, said Ihsan Tower is situated on a ten-katha land where a society of 54 people owns the flats.

No official from the construction company was found at the site.

Masum Munshi, a nephew of the deceased, said 12 of his relatives used to work at the building for nine months.

Masum alleged that neglect of the building's owners was responsible for the tragic accident.

 “The bamboos were thin and got weak in the rain,” he said.

OC Kazi Wazed said they would investigate the matter, adding, they could not talk to any of the flat owners yet.

A large number of workers are being killed at workplaces every year in Bangladesh because of poor safety standards and lax enforcement of existing regulations.

Worker's death at construction sites is rising in the capital. According to Bangladesh Occupational safety, Health and Environment Foundation, around 147 construction workers died last year.