The probe body formed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has recommended a five-point plan to make the seven-storey building damaged by an explosion in the Siddikbazar area of Gulistan in Dhaka suitable for use again.
Shamsuddin Haider Chowdhury, convener of the technical committee RAJUK said the report had been submitted to Rajuk Chairman Anisur Rahman Miah on Sunday.
He mentioned that the probe body was tasked with investigating whether or not the damaged building was livable; and if not, what can be done to make it livable.
“All six members of that committee are civil engineers. And we have recommended five points to make the building livable again,” he added.
The official noted that the first recommendation is to stabilize the building by rapid propping, which means increasing the building's load-bearing capacity.
CID's crime scene unit inspecting and collecting evidence at the explosion site in Gulistan's Siddikbazar Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune“Nine out of the 24 columns of the building have been damaged, and four of them have been severely damaged. Our first recommendation is to prop those so it can provide support to make the building stable.”
He added: “Another part of the first recommendation was to put a barricade 26 feet away from the damaged building. Where the barricade is placed now - the part of the road that will remain empty after the new barricade is placed. Any passenger vehicle will be able to ply from 6am to 10pm on that part, because heavy traffic runs from 10pm to 6am. These heavy vehicles move at high speed, so I have asked them to avoid this road.”
Recommendation number two states that a detailed engineering assessment of the building should be done within 45 days.
“Now to know the structural position of the building an engineering assessment has to be done. A team has to check the condition of the columns and beams of the building along with the soil quality. We have asked about 45 days for this,” he added.
Recommendation number three is retrofitting the building to increase its structural capacity.
Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune“It takes six months to do it. Retrofitting comes mainly in engineering assessment. Engineering assessment will take 1.5 months and retrofitting will take 6 months,” the official added.
He continued: “Recommendation number four states that no one can live in the building until the detailed engineering assessment and retrofitting are completed.”
The final recommendation is to assess the overall aspect of the building and issue a certificate.
“After all the recommendations are fulfilled, people will be able to live in that building,” he added.
The explosion that occurred in a restaurant called Cafe Queen in the basement of a seven-storey building in Gulistan's Siddikbazar area on March 7 has so far claimed the lives of 23 people and injured over 100 people.
On Sunday, a Dhaka court sent three people, including two owners of the building in Gulistan's Siddique Bazar blast to jail.
The three are building owners Wahidur Rahman, 46, his brother Matiur Rahman, 35, and sanitary trader Motaleb Mintu, 36.
