The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Rescuing of trapped day-labourers inside the collapsed Rangs Bhaban at the city's Bijoy Sarani could not be started yesterday as the experts did not give permission to do so on safety grounds.

Experts of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said they would allow the rescue operation after completion of installation of iron-props up to the 7th floor of the collapsed building. They also expressed the hope that rescue operation could be started some time today after installation of additional props.

Visiting the Rangs Bhaban yesterday morning this correspondent found that the situation remained unchanged. Rescue operation was not resumed although necessary preparations were taken to retrieve the bodies of the day-labourers from the rubbles.

Four wooden coffins along with other necessary things, including clothes and tea dust were taken to the Rangs Bhaban in the morning to pack up the decomposed bodies of the day-labourers.

Officials of the Fire Service and Civil Defence said they would launch the rescue operation once they received the permission of the BUET experts.

However, the Fire Service took three vehicles, ladders and an ambulance outside the Rangs Bhaban in the morning.

On the other hand, Housing and Public Works Secretary ASM Rashedul Hye yesterday visited the collapsed Rangs Bhaban.

Talking to newsmen he said the Rajuk sought cooperation of the Bangladesh Army to launch the rescue operation. "Such a huge building has not collapsed in the history of Bangladesh. This is something new to us," he said.

Rashedul Hye said," We've sought cooperation from the Bangladesh Army. We don't want anyone die after starting the rescue operation. That is why we will go for the rescue operation taking enough time."

Relatives of the day-labourers who were killed in the collapse of the building were also found wailing for their near and dear ones outside the Rangs Bhaban throughout the day yesterday.

They were eagerly waiting to receive the bodies of their near and dear ones so that they could bury them properly.

"We're poor people…we're passing our days in untold sufferings as the only bread-winner of my family has died in the building collapse. I did not get anything else to eat for the last two days. Where we will go now," the father of a day labourer killed in the Rangs Bhaban collapse said.

Amin Mohammad Foundation, a construction firm, appointed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) completed the installation of as many as 20,000 iron-made props or iron-made support bars underneath the ceilings of the ground and first floors of the collapsed building on Tuesday.

Earlier, Rajuk appointed Amin Mohammad Foundation to install the steel props to bring the Rangs Bhaban back to safer condition for launching rescue operation by the Fire Service and Civil Defence forces.

"We'll start the rescue operation as quickly as possible since the installation of iron-made props underneath the ceilings of up to the first floor of the Rangs Bhaban has already completed," ASM Imdadul Dastagir, a magistrate of Rajuk, told reporters yesterday.

"We hope that we'll be able to launch the rescue operation from tomorrow (Wednesday)," he said.

The ceilings from the 18th floor to the 2nd floor of the 22-storeyed Rangs Bhaban were suddenly collapsed on Saturday night, leaving four day labourers killed and injuring a dozen others. Three decomposed bodies of ill-fated day-labourers were visible from outside the building. The bodies are still remain trapped inside the building as they could not be retrieved from the debris till yesterday, three days after the collapse of the building.

Besides, at least a dozen people feared trapped inside the building.

Members of the Bangladesh Army, RAB and police have been patrolling around the Rangs Bhaban to ensure the safety of the pedestrians. Stickers have also been put on the walls of the building asking people to stay away from the building.

Visiting the Rangs Bhaban yesterday 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 at free of cost. "We're trying to ensure the safety of the building so that 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.

The ceilings--from the 18th floor to the 3rd floor-- suddenly collapsed as the 22-storeyed Rangs Bhaban caved in on Saturday night, leaving four people dead and minimum a dozen of people, mainly construction workers 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.