The driver’s assistant was operating the crane responsible for the girder falling on a private car in Uttara killing five people, says Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
The main operator was giving instructions from outside, RAB said on Thursday.
RAB Media and Public Relations wing chief Khandaker Al Moin disclosed the details during a media call.
According to RAB, the main operator Al Amin Hossian Hridoy does not have a license to drive heavy duty vehicles.
He learned to operate the crane in 2016 and after working in a few construction projects, joined the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as an operator.
Meanwhile, his assistant Raquib started as a helper for the crane three months ago. He has no prior experience or training in operating such a heavy-duty vehicle.
Around 2pm on the day of the accident, Raquib was operating the crane and lost control of the equipment, leading to the girder falling on top of the microbus, said Moin.
He fled right after the accident, he added.
On Wednesday, RAB arrested nine people including the crane driver, his assistant and the contractor’s security personnel in connection to the incident.
A case has been filed against them in Uttara West police station.
The arrestees are Md Al Amin Hossain Hridoy, 25, assistant Raquib Hossain, 23, Four Brothers Guard Service traffic men Md Rubel, Md Afroze Mia, 50, CGGC Safety Engineer Md Zulfiqar Ali Shah, 39, Iftekhar Hossain, 39, and Md Azharul Islam Mithu, 45, the owner and head of operations, IFS CON Bangladesh, the company responsible for supplying heavy duty equipment, Build Traders Company, responsible for supplying the crane, Manager Tofazzal alias Tushar, 42, Administrative Officer Ruhul Ameen Mridha and Md Manjurul Islam, 29.
They were arrested during drives in Jurain, Kalshi, Savar, Gazipur, Sirajganj and Bagerhat.
According to Khandaker Al Moin, a committee was at work to find out who were involved in the accident.
“They will submit a conclusive report,” he said, adding that they will find out which employees of BRT contractor Chinese Gezuba Group Company (CGGC) were involved.
IFS CON Company received the work permit from CGGC to supply heavy-duty construction equipment for the BRT project.
However, since they did not have the crane required to lift the girders, they hired the machine along with the driver and his assistant from Build Traders.
IFS CON owner Iftekhar and Head of Operations Mithu engaged the operators in the project without any verification of their qualifications.
Moreover, another crane was supposed to be there to aid the placement of the girders but they were not there.
Build Traders Administrative Officer Ruhul Amin and Marketing manager Tushar were responsible for looking after hiring the operators and checking the fitness of the machine.
In a bid to save costs, they hired an operator without license and the crane’s fitness was last updated in 2021.
On Monday, at least five people, including children, of the same family were killed when a 150-tonne girder fell on their car from a crane during BRT project work in Uttara.
The incident sparked outrage with many blaming the BRT of negligence. The project has been halted temporarily.
