Shopkeepers in this worn out building with around 28,000 square feet floor space had been living with extreme fear for the last eleven months.

After inspecting the building, the DCC officials on April 4, 2006 posted a notice on the building warning the people that the building might collapse. Almost a year has gone by, but DCC has yet to take any measure to demolish the dilapidated structure.

Most shoppers come to this kitchen market from Rayer Bazar, Dhanmondi, Shankor, Hazaribagh, Modhubazar and Zafrabad. The market is especially popular among the middle and lower income group of the area since prices of commodities are relatively cheaper here. Narrow streets leading to the market is seen as the main reason for the affluent to stay away from this market.

Mohammad Jashimuddin, a vegetable trader in the market, said the shopkeepers conduct their business in the building with a constant worry that the unthinkable might happen anytime. "Whenever there is a dull thud in this busy market, most shopkeepers start running for their live abandoning their shops."

Except for putting up the warning sign nearly one year ago, the DCC authorities did almost nothing so far to prevent a catastrophe by taking effective measures.

DCC executive engineer of Bazar circle Syed Mozaffar Hossain admitted that a danger looms over the busy and one of the oldest kitchen markets in the city. He however said that the bureaucratic process had been started to demolish and reconstruct the structure. The shopkeepers of the market would be temporarily rehabilitated under the same DCC initiative.

"After examining the situation, we sent our report to the estate department of DCC for further action," Syed Mozaffar Hossain added.

However, when this correspondent contacted chief estate officer of DCC Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, he expressed his ignorance on the matter as he did not yet receive any document in this regard.

"No paper has reached my office. Even if it reaches my office, I will have to refer the matter to another section with recommendation for temporary rehabilitation of the traders," said the chief estate officer.

The way DCC authorities are addressing this urgent matter, it seems that it might take months if not years to demolish the risky 2-storey structure and replace it with a safer one.

While talking to this correspondent, the executive engineer of Bazar circle explained that auctioning the old structure is a long process and he was not sure how the temporary rehabilitation of the traders could take place.

"Usually under the circumstances, the victims suggest us a place where they would set up their shops during demolition of the risky structure and reconstruction of the new one," the executive engineer added.