A multi-storey building is being constructed at Momin Road in the port city without any safety measure while the footpath, inset, is occupied by construction materials at Chawk Bazar. PHOTO: ANURUP KANTI DAS

A four-year old girl Ishrat Jahan Himu died after a brick fell on her from an under-construction building in the Chittagong Naval Base Area on June 1.
Himu's uncle Md Manik blamed the developer company “Construction and Supply Corporation Limited” for not taking safety measures for construction.
He said the building is being constructed without following building codes in the Chittagong Naval Base Area.
Like “Construction and Supply Corporation Limited” many developers in the port city are doing construction works without taking proper safety measures, posing threat to the lives of city dwellers.
The port city is going to be a city of apartments day by day as it is the business hub of the country and the real estate companies consider the city as the centre of their booming business. Moreover, the decision of giving transit to the neighbouring countries has enhanced the importance of the port city to the business communities. The real estate companies from different parts of the country are mustering here and making the sector a competitive one.
With the increasing demand of residential as well as commercial buildings, some civic problems and health hazards for the city dwellers have also been created.
The realtors construct their towers without keeping minimum space for the adjacent buildings and keep construction materials occupying the city roads or footpaths.
Russell Suman, a banker, said he feels insecure while he walks past the high-rise buildings alongside the roads as bricks or any other construction materials might fall on him.
Shahinul Islam Khan, chairman of building construction committee under Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), said they have asked the developers to take proper safety measures during the construction works and not to keep the building materials on the path of the commuters.
Shahin said they have an inspection team with authority to fine the building owners and seize the construction materials. The CDA can cancel the project if anyone repeats the crimes, he added.
Due to the shortage of manpower, the inspection activities are hampered frequently, Shahin said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP-traffic) Faruk Ahmed said it is true that some real estate companies keep construction materials on the footpaths and on roads, creating hazards for the commuters which is not under the jurisdiction of traffic department.
Police stations are responsible for looking into these matters and taking legal action, he added.
CMP Commissioner Abul Kashem said the city corporation is the authority to look into the matters. “You better ask the city corporation officials in this regard,” he advised.
Mayor Manjur Alam said the city corporation is going to issue a notice to the developer companies to remove their construction materials from the road and footpaths immediately. If anyone fails to remove their materials within the given time they will be penalised, he added.
Kazi Aynul Haque, managing director of Equity Property Management Limited, said his company always abides by the building codes. He, however, said there are some companies who do not follow the building codes, posing threat to the lives of commuters.
Equity Property Management Limited in Cheragi Moor intersection, however, continued its construction works without any safety measures.