Abiding by national building code
Khalilur Rahman | Sunday, 17 April 2011
Khalilur Rahman
Our ever-smiling Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque announced three days ago (April 13) that the government was formulating a policy to make it mandatory under the law for construction of each and every building, both in rural and urban areas, in strict conformity with the Bangladesh National Building Code with a view to minimising losses in the event of tremors. Speaking at a seminar on "Apprehension of Earthquake: Bangladesh " as the chief guest held in the city the minister referred to measures so far taken by the government to minimize losses if strong earthquake hits country. He informed the audience that his ministry has already procured equipment at a cost of Taka 590 million for conducting search and rescue operation. Procurement of more equipment worth Taka 1.64 billion was underway. Moreover, 64 thousand urban community volunteers will be trained to undertake search and rescue operation and provide first aid. The initiatives taken by the government, as Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque stated, is indeed a welcome step because experts forecast that Bangladesh sits along fault lines and that 0.25 million buildings in three major cities -- Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet - are extremely vulnerable to earthquake. For the sake of argument if we assume that people will strictly follow the new building code now under formulation what would happen to 0.25 million buildings in three major cities of the country is anybody's guess. Earlier, on another occasion food and disaster minister sounded a note of caution that any earthquake measuring six on the Richter Scale could be disastrous for the country. Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque said Bangladesh also faces Tsunami threat because four active sources are located in the Bay of Bengal. These may generate earthquake with a magnitude of 7+ on the Richter Scale. In 1990 the UN conducted a study in which Dhaka was shown as the most vulnerable city, followed by Tehran. According to an official estimate, the number of vulnerable buildings in Dhaka city are 78,000 out of a total of 3,26,000. In Chittagong city out of 1,80,000 buildings, 1,42,000 are vulnerable. In Sylhet, the number of such buildings are 24,000 out of 50,000. The Asian Development Bank (ADP) in a survey has found that most of the buildings in Dhaka city are not earthquake-resistant. About 53% of the buildings have weak foundation, 41% are unstable and 34% possess weak pillars and columns. A report from Chittagong says over 100 buildings in the port city of Chittagong have been found very risky as this are too old and some have faulty constructions. The Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has notified about this risky buildings to Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) but to no effect. The last caretaker government demolished some unauthorised commercial and residential buildings. But the owners of those buildings have gradually restored the structures to their previous unauthorised positions. The CDA has identified 400 buildings as unauthorised. The situation prevailing in other parts of the country is also very much discouraging in terms of old and vulnerable buildings. Let us cite an example of how the concerned authorities are dealing with vulnerable buildings in Pabna town. According to a press report, the Public Works Department (PWD) declared 100 buildings vulnerable and of these, 29 are owned by the government. The Civil Surgeon's residence, Jailer's residence and student hostels are too vulnerable. More than seven years ago, the PWD in its list of vulnerable buildings declared Civil Surgeon's residence, collectorate building, Jailer's residence, hostels of Pabna Shaheed Bulbul College, office of Pabna Red Crescent Society and land offices as too risky. Still these buildings are in use. The PWD informed the higher authority about the risky government buildings but no action was taken. In some of these buildings, the familier of staff members also reside knowing fully well the danger involved in it. Under the circumstances, we strongly feel that it is essential that the authorities think twice about the hazards of using those vulnerable buildings in country's major cities and district towns. Side by side, the government should enforce the new law strictly so that none can violate the building code in the capital and elsewhere in the country. At the same time, effective measures must be taken now to stop illegal construction of buildings before the new law comes into effect.
Our ever-smiling Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque announced three days ago (April 13) that the government was formulating a policy to make it mandatory under the law for construction of each and every building, both in rural and urban areas, in strict conformity with the Bangladesh National Building Code with a view to minimising losses in the event of tremors. Speaking at a seminar on "Apprehension of Earthquake: Bangladesh " as the chief guest held in the city the minister referred to measures so far taken by the government to minimize losses if strong earthquake hits country. He informed the audience that his ministry has already procured equipment at a cost of Taka 590 million for conducting search and rescue operation. Procurement of more equipment worth Taka 1.64 billion was underway. Moreover, 64 thousand urban community volunteers will be trained to undertake search and rescue operation and provide first aid. The initiatives taken by the government, as Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque stated, is indeed a welcome step because experts forecast that Bangladesh sits along fault lines and that 0.25 million buildings in three major cities -- Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet - are extremely vulnerable to earthquake. For the sake of argument if we assume that people will strictly follow the new building code now under formulation what would happen to 0.25 million buildings in three major cities of the country is anybody's guess. Earlier, on another occasion food and disaster minister sounded a note of caution that any earthquake measuring six on the Richter Scale could be disastrous for the country. Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque said Bangladesh also faces Tsunami threat because four active sources are located in the Bay of Bengal. These may generate earthquake with a magnitude of 7+ on the Richter Scale. In 1990 the UN conducted a study in which Dhaka was shown as the most vulnerable city, followed by Tehran. According to an official estimate, the number of vulnerable buildings in Dhaka city are 78,000 out of a total of 3,26,000. In Chittagong city out of 1,80,000 buildings, 1,42,000 are vulnerable. In Sylhet, the number of such buildings are 24,000 out of 50,000. The Asian Development Bank (ADP) in a survey has found that most of the buildings in Dhaka city are not earthquake-resistant. About 53% of the buildings have weak foundation, 41% are unstable and 34% possess weak pillars and columns. A report from Chittagong says over 100 buildings in the port city of Chittagong have been found very risky as this are too old and some have faulty constructions. The Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has notified about this risky buildings to Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) but to no effect. The last caretaker government demolished some unauthorised commercial and residential buildings. But the owners of those buildings have gradually restored the structures to their previous unauthorised positions. The CDA has identified 400 buildings as unauthorised. The situation prevailing in other parts of the country is also very much discouraging in terms of old and vulnerable buildings. Let us cite an example of how the concerned authorities are dealing with vulnerable buildings in Pabna town. According to a press report, the Public Works Department (PWD) declared 100 buildings vulnerable and of these, 29 are owned by the government. The Civil Surgeon's residence, Jailer's residence and student hostels are too vulnerable. More than seven years ago, the PWD in its list of vulnerable buildings declared Civil Surgeon's residence, collectorate building, Jailer's residence, hostels of Pabna Shaheed Bulbul College, office of Pabna Red Crescent Society and land offices as too risky. Still these buildings are in use. The PWD informed the higher authority about the risky government buildings but no action was taken. In some of these buildings, the familier of staff members also reside knowing fully well the danger involved in it. Under the circumstances, we strongly feel that it is essential that the authorities think twice about the hazards of using those vulnerable buildings in country's major cities and district towns. Side by side, the government should enforce the new law strictly so that none can violate the building code in the capital and elsewhere in the country. At the same time, effective measures must be taken now to stop illegal construction of buildings before the new law comes into effect.