PWD fails to execute govt order to implement nat\\\'l bldg code

The government's standing order to the Public Works Department (PWD) to implement national building code to reduce disaster risks gathers dust.
As per a Standing Order on Disaster (SOD), the PWD was empowered to ensure implementation of building code both in private and public sectors.
The SOD was issued by the government to the ministry of housing and public works (MOHPW) in 2010 and in particular to the PWD to implement building code and reduce disaster risks, an official said.
He said the SOD can help solve the existing problem in the absence of an implementation monitoring committee that was supposed to be formed as prescribed in the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC).
In the BNBC, it is said that the government will form an authority to implement the building code. But until today there is no such authority, resultantly buildings across the county are being constructed without proper monitoring.
The SOD was issued jointly by the ministry of food and the ministry of disaster management and relief in April, 2010 to the government's different departments including PWD.
A senior official in the PWD preferring anonymity said despite being empowered by the government to monitor the building code violation there was no move in the PWD for the last four years in this respect.
When contacted, Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, chief engineer of the PWD said: "At this moment I have no idea about the order."
In the present wave of self-styled building construction, it is urgent to ensure implementation of the national building code across the country.
The SOD said the PWD would perform duties at its headquarters through its subordinate offices at divisions, districts and upazila levels.
It suggested inclusion of current and future disaster risks in the policies, programmes and guidelines on all development work of the department.
The PWD official said as per the SOD, the PWD will establish a strong monitoring system to oversee the quality of construction work in the public and private sectors.
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