Six manuals prepared under a project titled 'Capacity Development of Natural Disaster Resistant Techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings (CNCRP)' come as a blessing for the country's construction sector. The purpose is to construct quake-resistant buildings and retrofit vulnerable ones to help withstand earthquakes without demolishing those. In a country where 90 per cent buildings are vulnerable to quakes and new ones are constructed without seismic evaluation due to lack of proper knowledge and guidelines, the manuals prepared with technical help from Japan may be an answer to the problem. So far as the preparation of the manuals is concerned, it has taken into account the methods of seismic evaluation and retrofitting design as followed by the Japanese. So, the authenticity of the exercise may not be in doubt but the challenges before the nation will be to implement the rules and regulations for construction and retrofitting.
Given the frequency of seismic jolts Bangladesh has experienced since the Nepalese earthquake, there is no alternative to measures that would count as a preventive exercise rather than a rescue operation. The latest such quake to hit Bangladesh was on Sunday morning last. So far as construction of new buildings is concerned, the task of implementation can be tagged as a precondition. Of course, proper monitoring is the next step. Yet this job is likely to prove less challenging than retrofitting the old and vulnerable concrete jungles in Dhaka city and other ones and towns. Even buildings constructed in villages are more vulnerable than those in towns and cities because they are constructed without following even the minimum building codes. Costs will be a compelling factor too. If construction following the manuals is costlier, many will try to ignore those.
However, to avoid an unfolding disaster either in urban centres or at rural sites, there is no alternative to going by such manuals. In fact, both jobs should be taken up simultaneously on an emergency basis lest the country is caught off-guard. The alarm bell has been sounded repeatedly and now the technology and knowledge are within reach, there should not be any dilly-dallying. Admittedly, skilled engineers and architects will be in short supply. Better it would be to make arrangement for a crash programme under which not only engineers but also supervisors and construction workers will be imparted training. People here are quick to learn new trades. Hopefully they will not take long to be adept in acquiring the knowledge and expertise to be equal to the task.
The task can be accomplished better under a public-private partnership programme. Such a possibility should be explored within the shortest possible time. Time is fast running out for the country. Meeting the challenges of retrofitting will be less costlier in terms of money and loss of life than if the job is left unattended. The spectre of a human tragedy is more frightening than the costs involved in retrofitting. Japan has expressed its willingness to stand by Bangladesh in this endeavour. So it must not miss this opportunity of receiving the help and redeeming its nonchalant attitude towards the construction sector.
Quake-resistant buildings
FE Team | Published: July 04, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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