The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Rescue operation at Rangs Bhaban is yet to be started on safety grounds although four persons were killed and at least a dozen people feared trapped inside.

Amin Mohammad Foundation, a construction firm, was appointed by Rajuk yesterday to bring the Rangs Bhaban at safe condition so that the Fire Service and Civil Defence could launch the rescue operation.

Visiting the Rangs Bhaban yresterday morning, this correspondent found that workers appointed by Amin Mohammad Foundation were placing steel-made props underneath the collapsed ceilings of the Rangs Bhaban.

Officials of the Amin Mohammad Foundation said they were trying to ensure safety of the Rangs Bhaban free of cost. "We're trying to ensure the safety of the building so threat it could not collapse further," an official of the construction firm said.

The official said as many as 20,000 steel props would be installed underneath the collapsed ceilings.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said they would start the rescue operation only after the construction company declared the building safe. "Otherwise, we will not send our people inside the building," an official said.

Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brigadier General Rafiqur Rahman told reporters on Sunday that they were looking for some safer means to rescue the victims and clear the debris.

However, the day labourers appointed by Amin Mohammad Foundation alleged that they had to work in darkness round-the-clock as there was no arrangement for light inside the building.

"We're working day and night in total darkness risking our live. We're working with the fear of death. Each of us is given Tk 100 only for every day. If we die the owner will not give a penny to our families. They will also not give a penny if anyone of us is injured," a day labourer said.

The ceilings--from the 14th storeyed to the 4th storeyed of the building collapsed as the 22-storeyed Rangs Bahban caved in on Saturday night, leaving four people dead and minimum a dozen of people, mainly construction workrs injured.

At least a dozen people are feared trapped inside. Fire Service and Civil Defence has so far rescued 12. Of them, one died at the city's Orthopaedic Hospital on Sunday and the rest were undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

On the other hand, relatives of the construction workers who died in the Rangs Bhaban collapse on Saturday night alleged that they were yet to receive the bodies of their near and dear one although two days were already passed after the tragic accident.

Meanwhile, the government has formed a three-member committee headed by Rajuk's Chief Engineer Shah Alam to probe the incident. The two other members are Rajuk's deputy chief engineer and a teacher of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

The Rangs Bhaban authorities at a press briefing earlier blamed the collapse on negligence of the Rajuk authorities.

They alleged that Rajuk had appointed a ship-breaking firm for partial demolition of the multi-storey building.

Rajuk Executive Engineer Anwar Hossain, however, denied the allegations.