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A moderate tremor to kill thousands

25-30 pc buildings to collapse in city, warn experts

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
At least 25 to 30 percent buildings of Dhaka will collapse instantly killing thousands of people if the city is hit by a tremor of magnitude five on the Richter scale as most buildings have been constructed here ignoring the earthquake risk, engineers said at a press conference yesterday. No fewer than 90 percent buildings in the capital are constructed without proper soil test, which poses a serious disaster risk caused by earthquake, said ANH Akhtar Hossain, general secretary of the Engineers Institution, Bangladesh (IEB), at the conference presided over by IEB President engineer M Anwarul Azim and held at the IEB office.
The IEB today observes its 57th founding anniversary, also the Engineers' Day for them, and will bring out a rally with the slogan "we demand safe building and building construction code."
Speaking at the press conference, Akhtar Hossain, also managing director of the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), said, "The post-tremor scenario of most buildings of Dhaka would be like the rubble of the Spectrum Sweater Industries Ltd building at Palashbari in Savar."
Pointing out the indiscriminate construction of unplanned buildings in the capital, he said the existing construction code is not suitable and needs modification. He also emphasised the need for proper application of the existing construction related laws.
Citing the example of the eightday rescue operation by the army at the collapse site in Savar, engineer Nurul Huda said it proves that the government is not prepared for management of such disaster. He urged the government to take necessary steps for preparation in this regard.
Akhtar Hossain in a written statement demanded competitive examination through the Public Service Commission (PSC) for promotion of deputy secretary to secretary in different ministries providing equal opportunity to all professionals of the cadre services of the government, semi- government and autonomous organisations.
The IEB engineers said discrimination is existing also in the payscale. They reiterated their demand for a six-tier pay-scale for engineers from assistant engineer to chief engineer.
They also demanded separation of the judiciary from the executive, and bringing executive officials engaged in magistracy under the judiciary.
On the occasion of the Engineers' Day, the IEB organises several programmes including a colourful procession and a roundtable on "safe building and national building code" at the IEB seminar room at 4:30pm and a cultural programme at 7pm today.
An article on safe construction will be presented at a reception programme for eminent engineers at the IEB auditorium tomorrow.
Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza Abbas is expected to attend the roundtable as the chief guest today while LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan will attend tomorrow's reception ceremony as the chief guest.