DHAKA: Several hundreds buildings as old as century years even more are posing risks much like a terrible deathtrap to the thousands of people in Old Dhaka, one of the most densely populated area in the country.

The population has jumped up in several-folds, but the dwelling houses have not been repaired that much. Many of the buildings are considered risky; the unapproved depilated old ones have been turned into more like “terrible deathtrap”.

Most of the building were built decades ago, which even have no approvals, some have it but the building designs and plans have been changed that make those risky to reside.

According to a United Nations geological survey, Dhaka city is one of the 20 cities those are located on the most earthquake-prone area. And, the older part of Dhaka is in the maximum danger zone. The centuries-year old establishments are telling that there might happened major accident anytime.

According to the Disaster Management Bureau, some 40 percent out of about 3.5-lakh buildings are risky and majority of those are located in Old Dhaka.

It is said that the causes of being risky includes these establishments are made up of bricks, lime and brick dust while iron rods and cements are not used to mend.

Though many of the houses have been declared risky but many families still live crowded inside those taking risk to lives.

Sources of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) said some 312 buildings have been marked as ‘more risky’ and more 5,000 have been built violating the Bangladesh National Building Code and also have been identified as risky.

Sources of the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) said DCC appointed Geodesic Consulting Pvt. Ltd. to prepare a list of the risky buildings.

Based on the list, the DCC declared some 573 buildings risky. Of those, it suggested that 145 more risky buildings should be broken immediately. Of the more risky, 91 are located in Shakhari Bazar, 73 in Lalbagh and 21 in Hazaribagh.

But the most dreadful aspect is that there are 500 more buildings in Old Dhaka which are two century years old even more.

Tussles appeared among RAJUK and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on who holds responsibility to break the risky houses, as none is willing to smash down the old-aged houses.

Architect and city planner of architecture department of DSCC Sirazul Islam told banglanews, “According to the Building (Construction, Development, Protection and Removal) Rule 2008, RAJUK hold responsibility to give approval for building, identify risky ones and take measures in this regard.”

On the other hand, RAJUK development and control department director, also risky building identifying committee convener, Golam Mostafa said article-16 of the City Corporation Act 2009 gives authority to approve the building design and plan  and articles -17 tells about the demolishing of risky buildings.

Defending the RAJUK official’s remarks, the DSCC official said the City Act was not amended after the formation of RAJUK and people do not go to City authorities for approval on building design and plan; whereas RAJUK gives about 5,000 approvals annually, so RAJUK holds responsibility to demolish the risky buildings.

It will be decided after the inter-ministerial meeting who should have the responsibility to approve the building design and plan and take to pieces the risky ones, said Sirazul Islam.

BDST: 1254 HRS APR 25, 2014