The owner of a brick field has no idea how labourers of the field lived at night.
The locals on Saturday have blamed the mismanagement of the brick field staff and the owner for the deaths of 13 men who lost their lives on Friday morning.
The Comilla K&KO Brick Field Owner, Hazi Abdul Razzak, said: “If we need labour for the field, we contact the head (Sarder) about it. But we did not have any idea how they stay during their work.”
But Sarder Saddam Hossain said something else. He said: “According to the agreement, the owner must fix accommodations for the labourers; the owners irresponsibly fix random spots for our overnight stay.”
The owner of the field further said: “As far as I know, it was the fault of the truck driver and his assistant.
When the spot was visited, it was seen that 18 of the labourers stayed inside a small room whose walls were very weak. Most of the brick fields in Comilla have the same living situation for workers.
Some local workers said the deceased labourers came to the field two months ago and were brought by Saddam for a six month contract.
Monir Hossain, a worker at the same brick field said: “They (the deceased men) worked all week and they wanted to send money to their family members on Friday.
Also Read- Truck flips over, kills 13 workers in Comilla
Comilla Superintendent of Police (SP) Nurul Islam said: “We are investigating to find out whether there was any fault from the owner’s side.”
A three member committee has already been formed to investigate the matter which is to be led by Additional SP, Abdullah Al Mamun.
“The absconding driver and his assistant will soon be brought to justice,” the SP said.
Comilla Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abul Fazal Mir said: “We have formed a four member investigation committee which will be led by Additional DC, Kaizer Md Farabi. We hope to know the actual reason for the deaths within seven days.”
How did the accident happen?
On Friday morning, a truck flipped over and crushed a workers’ shed in Comilla, killing 13 sleeping workers and injuring five others.
Confirming the matter to the Dhaka Tribune, Chauddagram police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdullah Al Mahfuz said: “Around 7:30am on Friday the truck was parked near the brick field to unload coal, when it suddenly flipped over and crushed the shed housing labourers, near Narayanpur in Chauddagram.
“Ten of the deceased victims are from the Hindu community, seven of whom are from the same family.”
They are: Ranjit Chandra Roy, 30; Md Mursalin, 18; Md Masum, 18; Tarun Chandra Roy, 25; Md Selim, 28; Biplob, 19; Monoranjan Roy, 19; Shakkar Chandra Roy, 22; Dipu Chandra Roy, 19; Amit Chandra Roy, 20; Minal Chandra Roy, 21; Bikash Chandra Roy, 28; and Kanak Chandra Roy, 34.
Comilla DC Md Abul Fazal Mir and ASP Abdullah Al Mamun visited the scene of the accident.
The DC and the brick field owner have donated Tk20,000 and Tk10,000, respectively, to each of the deceased victims’ families.
Case filed
A case was filed against the driver and the assistant of the truck that overturned and crushed the sleeping workers, reports our Comilla correspondent Masud Alam.
Sanjit Chandra Roy, brother of one of the 13 victims, Ranjit Chandra Roy, filed a case with Chauddagram police station on Friday night.
However, both the accused remain unnamed in the case.
Confirming the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Saturday morning, Chouddagram police station OC Abdullah Al Mahfuz said: "In the case statements, the truck driver and helper have been accused of negligence."
“According to the case statements, the brick kiln authorities will also be brought under the case if any negligence is found on their part,” the OC added.
