A preliminary probe finds a Chinese company working in the BRT (bus rapid transit) project solely responsible for Monday's fatal accident at Uttara.
The contractor, 'China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC)', was doing the work flouting an approved plan.
A six-member enquiry committee, formed on Monday night after five persons perished following the fall of a girder from a crane on their car, found four reasons for the accident.
The reasons include lack of security and traffic management measure by the contractor 'China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC)'.
Road transport and highways division secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri disclosed this on Tuesday after the committee submitted the report.
Some committee members, including additional secretary Neelima Akhter, shared their findings during the briefing.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday directed to take stern action against those responsible after a proper probe against the project director (PD) and the contractor.
Road transport and bridges ministry has already sent show-caused the team leader of supervision consultant, PD and CGGC head to explain their respective sides regarding the tragedy.
Similar incidents have occurred five times since the BRT project was launched.
The chief engineer of roads and highways department (RHD) was also asked to explain the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, Afran Mandal Babu, brother of victims Fahima Akhter and Jharna Akhter filed a case with Uttara West Police on Tuesday, accusing the Chinese company.
When asked who to blame, the secretary said utter negligence on part of the contractor was found in the preliminary report.
The final report, which would be submitted within the next two working days after further investigation, would give the government a real picture, he added.
Mr Nuri said no work plan was given to the contractor from the supervision consultant for the day as it was a public holiday.
"Chinese company even didn't inform traffic police and take security measures to comply with safety, security and traffic management if they decided to carry out the work on the holiday."
The secretary said the investigators found no security staff and safety measures while carrying the work.
They also found that the operator of a subcontractor company was operating the crane. He lifted a girder before the next girder fell on the car. But the man left the crane to escape when he lost his control on the crane load.
Mr Nuri said the operator lost the balance of the crane while moving it as the road surface was also not even.
About punitive action, he cited financial penalty, termination of contract and blacklisting the company in Bangladesh as per the contract. Action will be taken after receiving the final report, reiterated the secretary.
The crane operator could not be arrested till the filing of this report around 9:00 pm. The FE on Tuesday visited the site till Board Bazar and found not a single safety boundary on the 20.1-kilometre corridor. The entire work remains halted now.
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank held a meeting with the project officials, including the team leader.
The RHD took the project-Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project-with the technical and financial support of the ADB in 2012 to develop over 20-kilometre dedicated bus-based mass-transit corridor from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. As the corridor has elevated road over four km, the Bangladesh Bridge also engaged another Chinese contractor to carry it. Since the beginning, the project has severe lack of coordination leaving to increase both time and cost of the project.
smunima@yahoo.com