3rd party needed to assess Dhaka’s risky buildings: Expert

Although there are no accurate statistics yet, nearly 2 lakh buildings in Dhaka city are at risk of catching fire or collapsing during earthquakes, says Professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansary of BUET’s Civil Engineering Department.

Addressing a seminar on Monday, he said it has been seen that there are around 21 lakh buildings in the capital and 6 lakh of them are taller than four storeys. Some 30 per cent, or 1.8 lakh, of these 6 lakh buildings are at risk.

“But we don’t know exactly which these buildings are. It has become necessary to hire a third party to assess these. This assessment would be conducted faster if they were divided into eight zones of RAJUK — 10 in each zone,” said Ansary, who is also the director of BUET-Japan Institute of Disaster Prevention and Urban Safety.

He made the remarks while presenting his article at the seminar, titled “Dhaka is at risk of earthquake, what media should do,” at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital’s Segunbaghicha.

Ansary said that soil assessment and design were important in building construction. If these are not done properly, the building will be at risk. He emphasised proper training of architects, engineers and planners, as well as public awareness.

Speaking at the event, LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam said that a certified person, firm or engineering company should be responsible for a building’s construction. If any deviation is found, then Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha can hold them liable along with the owner.

RAJUK Chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah said that they will hold a meeting in this regard very soon. “We will discuss how to find the risky buildings through a third parties assessor. But we want the third party to be unquestionable. So, we will talk to experts and form a committee to handle this issue.”

He said that it was decided to vacate some 204 buildings in 2020-21, 388 in 2021-22, and 1,429 in 2022-23 (till March 2023). Still, many people are constructing buildings without complying with the rules and laws.

“Everyone must obey the law. Otherwise, action will be taken against them. We would like to request [the authorities concerned] that no facilities such as electricity, water and other facilities are provided without an occupancy certificate,” he added. Anisur also said that a vulnerability map was being prepared as well. “We will publish it soon. It will be useful in building construction.”

Former Fire Service director general Brig Gen Ali Ahmed Khan, Iqbal Habib of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh, and Assistant Professor Md Juel Mia of Dhaka University’s Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies were also present, among others, at the seminar.