A sudden road collapse and ground sinking at Mohammadia Housing Society in Mohammadpur’s Road-5 area has caused a grocery shop and the piling structure of an under-construction building to sink nearly 40 feet underground, leaving nearby multi-storey buildings at risk.
The incident is believed to have been triggered by deep excavation work for a building under construction, combined with heavy rainfall that led to water accumulation and soil instability in the area.
During a visit to the site on Monday afternoon, a grocery shop was seen collapsed at the location. Construction work was ongoing at the site, which was enclosed with tin fencing bearing the name “Amin Mohammad Foundation”. Inside, a large water-filled cavity had formed, resembling a pond. An excavator was operating while workers attempted to fill the area with sandbags. A roadside lamp post had also fallen.
Residents of adjacent buildings said the sudden collapse swallowed the shop and left surrounding multi-storey structures in a vulnerable condition. Fearing further subsidence, several families have already moved out.
“We are living in fear because of the possibility of building collapse. I have sent my wife and children to a relative’s house. Influential people can do whatever they want. The country has become lawless,” said Ekramul Islam, a resident of House No. 24, urging authorities to ensure safety.
Md Moslem Uddin, owner of a nearby sanitary goods shop, said construction work at the site had been ongoing for a long time, including piling and basement excavation.
“I was in my shop on Monday night when I heard a loud sound. I rushed out and saw that the piling structure and a grocery shop had sunk nearly 40 feet,” he said, alleging negligence by the developer.
Matin, owner of the affected grocery shop, said he was unable to remove his goods before the collapse.
“Due to heavy rainfall, water accumulated and softened the soil, causing the piling and shop to collapse. My livelihood has stopped. I demand compensation,” he said.
A labourer working at the site said they arrived in the morning to find that the area had caved in, and sand-filling work was underway throughout the day while journalists were reportedly restricted from entering.
Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Engineer Brig Gen Syed Rakibul Hasan said piling work for a building under Amin Mohammad Group led to a cavity formation, causing the road to subside and nearby structures to tilt.
He added that city corporation engineers inspected the site on Sunday night and that legal and administrative steps, including fines and notices, have been initiated against the developer.
