7 bodies recovered so far as rescue operation starts
Friday, 14 December 2007
Rescue operation of the decomposed bodies of the construction breaking workers, locked inside the Rangs Bhaban since December 8, started Thursday morning, and so far, a total of seven bodies have been recovered, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
Three bodies of the workers were pulled down from under the rubbles of the high-rise on Sunday and Monday. Four more bodies of the workers were pulled down Thursday in decomposed condition.
Deputy Director of Fire Brigade Selim Newaz Bhuiyan, who led the rescue operation, said that the rescue operation started at 10am. He said, the operation would continue until the recovery of all the bodies of the ill-fated workers.
A total of 60 firefighters are working to rescue the bodies.
Earlier on December 8, the 14th to 3rd floor of the 22-storied Rangs Bhaban at Bijoy Sarani crossing in the city suddenly collapsed partially on the construction-breaking workers while they were preparing to sleep at about 10:30pm, leaving unspecified number of workers dead and injured.
Meanwhile, the High Court (HC) Thursday ordered a probe into the Rangs Bhaban collapse without city developer RAJUK, and action against the people behind the accident.
The HC bench of justices ABM Khairul Haque and Abdul Awal gave the order after president of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh advocate Manjil Morshid petitioned the court Wednesday.
The petition sought a court directive on Tk 0.5 million compensation for the family of each of the workers who died in the incident, and the government and RAJUK to retrieve bodies from the debris, and arrange their burial within 24-hours.
The court asked why the inaction of the authorities to retrieve and bury bodies five days after the incident would not be declared illegal. It also asked them to explain why an order should not be issued for ensuring the safety of the workers by putting in place modern equipment.
The public works secretary, inspector general of Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, chairman, secretary and chief engineer of RAJUK, and the officer-in-charge of Tejgaon police station have been asked to come up with their reply in three weeks.
Advocate Manjil told the court during hearing that the bodies of the victims had been rotting for five days, and yet the government and RAJUK took no effective steps.
The Supreme Court in a verdict on Aug 3 ordered the top 16 storeys of the corporate headquarters of Rangs Group to be dismantled, ruling that these were illegally raised. The demolition began a day after the verdict, engaging hundreds of workers for job.
Three bodies of the workers were pulled down from under the rubbles of the high-rise on Sunday and Monday. Four more bodies of the workers were pulled down Thursday in decomposed condition.
Deputy Director of Fire Brigade Selim Newaz Bhuiyan, who led the rescue operation, said that the rescue operation started at 10am. He said, the operation would continue until the recovery of all the bodies of the ill-fated workers.
A total of 60 firefighters are working to rescue the bodies.
Earlier on December 8, the 14th to 3rd floor of the 22-storied Rangs Bhaban at Bijoy Sarani crossing in the city suddenly collapsed partially on the construction-breaking workers while they were preparing to sleep at about 10:30pm, leaving unspecified number of workers dead and injured.
Meanwhile, the High Court (HC) Thursday ordered a probe into the Rangs Bhaban collapse without city developer RAJUK, and action against the people behind the accident.
The HC bench of justices ABM Khairul Haque and Abdul Awal gave the order after president of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh advocate Manjil Morshid petitioned the court Wednesday.
The petition sought a court directive on Tk 0.5 million compensation for the family of each of the workers who died in the incident, and the government and RAJUK to retrieve bodies from the debris, and arrange their burial within 24-hours.
The court asked why the inaction of the authorities to retrieve and bury bodies five days after the incident would not be declared illegal. It also asked them to explain why an order should not be issued for ensuring the safety of the workers by putting in place modern equipment.
The public works secretary, inspector general of Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, chairman, secretary and chief engineer of RAJUK, and the officer-in-charge of Tejgaon police station have been asked to come up with their reply in three weeks.
Advocate Manjil told the court during hearing that the bodies of the victims had been rotting for five days, and yet the government and RAJUK took no effective steps.
The Supreme Court in a verdict on Aug 3 ordered the top 16 storeys of the corporate headquarters of Rangs Group to be dismantled, ruling that these were illegally raised. The demolition began a day after the verdict, engaging hundreds of workers for job.