The century-old building of Dhaka Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Old Dhaka’s Narinda has not been demolished yet despite its being marked by Rajuk as “vulnerable” about three years ago.
Families living near the derelict two-storey building have expressed concerns about its vulnerability to collapse and potential to cause damage, urging the authorities concerned to take steps to either demolish or rebuild it.
Rajuk, the urban development authority of the capital, prepared a list of over 300 vulnerable buildings in Dhaka in 2010 and the Narinda building was one of them.
During a recent visit to the spot, the Dhaka Tribune found the building inhabited by families of several lower-ranking officers, braving its conspicuously unsound conditions with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof.
Cracks developed in different parts of the old building, on the walls and floors and balconies, posing a grave risk to the safety of those living inside as well as their neighbours in adjacent buildings.
The residents, however, declined to comment on the validity of their using the house as a staff quarter.
Md Habibur Rahman, who has a one-storey house close to the back of the old building, said: “We are afraid the building may collapse any time and cause a humanitarian catastrophe and property damage.”
“The building has been in this condition for quite a while but no steps were taken to demolish it.”
Several locals living near the building also expressed similar concerns and urged the authorities to take steps to demolish the structure soon.
It has been alleged that the actual owner of the 1.5-katha land, on which the building stands, was one Nabajeet Chandra Roy from whom the DC office took the land.
Ratan Roy, nephew of Nabajeet and current claimant to the land, told the Dhaka Tribune that the land was forcibly requisitioned. “We filed a case against the DC office for occupying the land. The court ruled in favour of us but they did not yet hand it over.”
He also said the city corporation had served a notice on him asking him to have the building demolished but the DC office would not allow it as, he alleged, doing so would mean eviction of its employees.
Contacted, Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Yusuf Harun denied prior knowledge of the building. “I will collect information in this regard and if the building is found to be vulnerable, it will be demolished.”
He also denied having any knowledge of the claim about land ownership.
“It will not be fair to comment on the matter without knowing and checking documents first. I will take steps after checking necessary documents.”
