At least six government offices situated at two dilapidated buildings at Rajnagar upazila in Moulvibazar are running amid high risks as authorities concerned have declared these buildings abandoned.
Though the Public Works Department (PWD) has declared the two government buildings abandoned a few years back and asked its officials to vacate these, above mentioned six offices still using these as offices with high risk.
According to local sources, Moulvibazar Public Works Department (PWD) declared a building which is located on Rajnagar upazila parishad complex premises abandoned for its rundown state. But defying the ban, activities of four government offices are now continuing at abandoned building, posing life threat to its staff.
The four offices are – Upazila Cooperative Office, Upazila Fishery Office, Upazila Secondary Education Office and Muktijuddha Sangsad Upazila Command office.
Apart from the four offices, other two offices - “One House, One Farm Project” office and Bangladesh Rural Development Board office are also running in another abandoned government staff quarter building near Rajnagar upazila parishad complex.
Rajnagar Upazila Cooperative Officer Md Sadrul Islam said he had gotten notice to vacate the risky building, but there was no space available at the upazila parishad complex building.
“We are compelled to work in the dilapidated risky building amid life risk,” he said. Like him, upazila level officers of other five offices echoed the same.
Officer of the Bangladesh Rural Development Board Md Oliullah Khan said there was no vacate building at its own compound.
He said: “So there is no way to vacate this risky building at present.”
Md Abul Hussin, upazila secondary education officer, said there was no allocation of fund to rent an office space at private building in Rajnagar. So, they were working at the risky building.
Sajal Chakraverty, upazila commander of the Muktijuddha Sangsad, said his office was also running here amid risk.
He told the Dhaka Tribune that he had already informed the authorities concerned about the matter and they assured him that they would take measures in this regard.
“Now, I am waiting for a new office space,” Sajal added.
Ayinun Akter Panna, upazila nirbahi officer of Rajnagar, told the correspondent that she had joined Rajnagar upazila recently and she was informed about the matter. Now, she was looking the way how the problem is solved.
Md Qunrul Hasan, deputy commissioner Moulvibazar, said he was informed about the matter.
“I am trying to find out sufficient spaces so that the offices could shift from existing buildings as soon as possible.”
