Rangs Building collapse: Human Rights Groups should take up the issue December 15, 2007
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE.Tags: , Rangs Building
4 comments
Fig: waiting for the deads
Rangs building collapsed on the dead of the night of 8th December 2007 while part of the 17th floor caved in demolishing floors beneath it upto the 3rd floor. 12 persons have been killed and 100 injured. Rajuk, the Development Authority of the capital under whose supervision the whole work is going on, only started the rescue work from 13th December 2007. By this time, corpses started to decompose and air becomes heavy with the cry of the children and relatives of the deceased.
Nobody would suppress his emotion while a dead man hanging through the collapse of a floor and his son crying for the dead father and longing for the corpse.
But who is responsible for this pathetic scene? The contract was given to Six Star for demolition. Had the firm enough experience to carry out a gigantic work of demolition of a huge building? It is said that this is the first time in Bangladesh that such a huge, intact and strong building is needed to be demolished. Then why foreign expertise was not utilized?
Now it is found that code for demolition was not followed properly in this case. The work of demolition was not assessed properly; the work was going on unsupervised, in the dead of the night and without protection for the pediatricians and for the neighbors. Few sporadic incidents also occurred earlier but nobody hinted.
Who will compensate dead and how much? And the procedure should be challenged. I think Human Rights groups should come forward and take up the issue. People shouldn’t die in such a way whoever they may be.
An ordinary citizen
Rangs building:’symbol of abuse of power’ demolished August 3, 2007
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, CORRUPTION, GOVERNANCE, JUDICIARY.Tags: Rangs Building
1 comment so far
Rangs building is being demolished. Law Adviser termed the building as the symbol of abuse of power. Government won on appeal petition in the judgment of the Supreme Court where the building from the 7thfloor upto 22 nd floor (upper 16 floor) has been declared illegal.
Rajuk started to demolish the building from today. It will take 3-4 months for complete demolition of the building.
Governments were in fight with the Rangs owner from early nineties Despite the opposition of the Rajuk and Civil Aviation Ministry Rangs raised the building to 22 nd floor. Rajuk termed it illegal. But with an order from High court in 2000, it remain intact .Govt made appeal in the supreme count against the judgment. Now the judgment goes in favour of the Government.
Government will also acquire the land of the Rangs building and the area behind the bulding.
Government needs the land according to the master plan to develop a road to interconnect two highways to lessen the traffic in the capital.
Rangs Building is the monument of illegality.This is an example how the influential of Bangladesh ignore the rules of the land and ignore the orders of the governmental authorities. It shows how they influence the laws and ignore the courts. No political governments so far could do anything in this regard and the owners were so confident that they invested about 700 crore taka in constructing this. This confidence came from the political linkage they have developed over the years with the political parties and our legal system.
By demolishing the Building and acquiring the land and then preparing the planned road, not only the traffic will be eased up but it will also increase the confidence of the public on the Government and Government intension to do good for the country without fear or favour to anybody.
Bdoza
Bangladesh
Reflections 