Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, the city development authority, sealed off a four-storey building in the capital’s Bangshal area yesterday as it had tilted.
The Rajuk officials also partially locked three more buildings in the area and cut the gas, electricity and water supply of these buildings.
Sources said a Rajuk technical committee would inspect the buildings and a final decision in this regard would be taken after getting the report.
After visiting the area, it was found that just beside the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters in Siddiqbazar area, the buildings holding number 99, 99/1, 99/2, 100 and 100/2 were constructed without leaving any space between them.
Of them, the building holding number 99/2 tilted and developed a crack on its wall. As the building is situated in between three other buildings, it had affected the buildings holding number 99/1, 100 and 100/2. The building holding number 100 was badly affected as it was constructed close to 99/2.
Locals said the owner of the building (99/2) sold it to one Walid for Tk33 lakh, six years ago. At that time, it was a three-storey building, but Walid later made it a four-storeyed one.
Jalal, the owner of the next building (99/1), sold it to Mohsin for Tk1.30 crore. Mohsin, a chemical trader in Mitford area, bought a two-storey building, but later made it seven-storeys.
Locals said the buildings 100 and 100/2 were constructed in accordance with the rules, but these were affected due to the “faulty” construction of 99/1 and 99/2. As cracks developed on 100 and 100/2, owners Bilal Hossain and Anisur Rahman left the buildings yesterday.
Besides, there were four families in 99/2 and they were evacuated as it was not deemed safe. Abdul Halim, senior station officer of the fire service, was present on the spot and told the Dhaka Tribune that the building tiled around 2:30 am. “On receiving information, we rushed to the spot and evacuated people from the buildings,” he said.
Officials from Titas Gas, Desco and Wasa also came to the spot and cut the gas, power and water supply. Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, a Rajuk magistrate, said they had sealed off the building after inspection.
“We have filed a general diary with Bangshal police station against Walid and police are trying to hunt him down,” said Shahidul. After getting the final report from the technical committee, they would take decision whether the building would be demolished or not, he added.
When contacted, Abdul Kuddus Fakir, officer-in-charge of Bangshal police said police launched a hunt for the building owner who went into hiding soon after the incident.
Earlier, Rajuk had made a list of risky buildings in Dhaka. According to the list, there are at least 5,000 risky buildings in the capital and 60% of them are in Old Dhaka.