Collapse of under construction building

The under construction National Bank building has exposed the systemic failures that involve lack of oversight of construction, capacity of Rajuk in enforcing the Building Code and the obligation of the construction firms in following the Code.  

While we appreciate the personal involvement of the DCC North Mayor in the matter, the issue goes beyond a mayor's writ and his own involvement in post disaster operations. The collapse of the proposed building at the very seminal stage shows an abject lack of supervision up and down the line including that of Rajuk's. And one would have thought that much more than the normal safety measures would have been taken by the construction farm and its engineers given not only the weak nature of the land the building was being built on but also that there was a large hotel next to the under construction building. 

For Rajuk to register case against the bank and the construction firm is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. But we hope that the errant parties would be held liable for this disaster. It is the regime of impunity that induces people to violate rules and regulations. But our experience of such cases is that none actually responsible for such disasters—the authority granting permission, the construction firm or the enforcement authority, is ever held to account except perhaps the owner. One has to look at Rana Plaza and Spectra, for example. 

As for the enforcement of the Building Code, clearly Rajuk is incapable of ensuring its compliance and thus a separate enforcing authority should be set up immediately.