While buildings are erected, little is done to address the safety of the site, construction workers and the general public.

After the deaths of two women under similar circumstances at separate construction sites last month, the safety situation has come to the fore once again.

One of the main reasons behind construction mishaps can be attributed to keeping building materials like long steel rods, sand, cement and bricks haphazardly on roads and pavements around the site. This not only obstructs the movement of people but also creates hazardous situations.

"I pass by a huge under-construction apartment on way to work," Masum Ahmed of Segun Bagicha told Star City. "I am always scared of a brick or other heavy object falling on my head."

"Unfortunately, the Bangladesh National Building Code has remained totally unimplemented to date. But this code spells out every possible safety requirement a construction site should have," said Engineer Emdadul Islam, a member of the sub committee of Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha (RAJUK) which formulated this code in 1993.

"After approving a building plan, RAJUK is supposed to monitor the subsequent construction, which they don't. That's why if there are deaths or injuries at the site, RAJUK should be held accountable," said a top official of RAJUK preferring anonymity.

Because of this apparent inaction of RAJUK, the developers and builders are taking advantage of certain loopholes in the building code.

The National Building Code does not make clear which government agency is responsible for its enforcement. When the code was enacted in 1993, it did propose that officials and experts would be required for its regulation, but ten years on that provision remains vague.

"RAJUK has no manpower to monitor such activities. If the government requires RAJUK to supervise construction it will have to provide necessary personnel first," said a source at RAJUK.

REHAB (Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh) General Secretary Mahmudul Hasan feels that the code does not have the necessary authority to be taken seriously.

"The building code has not been passed by parliament. This could be one reason behind the builders' non-compliance."

"But the recent deaths of two innocent pedestrians due to falling iron rods used for piling should be an eye opener for the concerned authorities. I would like to mention that tri-pipe piling is a very sophisticated and technical job. If the balance of the tri-pipe is slightly deviated then it will invariably fall resulting in fatal accidents," Hasan added.

The government is reportedly preparing a guideline for private builders and developers. If that guideline sees light, 'safety in construction' could become more than just words on paper.