Dhaka BRT girder tragedy: Preliminary probe report submitted

A six-member panel probing the Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) girder tragedy has submitted a preliminary report to the government, UNB has learnt.

On Monday, five members of a family, including two children, were crushed to death after a girder of the BRT project in Uttara fell on their private car. A newlywed couple also travelling with them, fortunately escaped death.

On Monday itself, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges formed the six-member probe committee to investigate the tragedy.

Nilima Akhter, additional secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, has been made the head of the committee. The panel has been asked to submit a full report within the next two days.

Meanwhile, a police case has been filed in connection with the tragedy that occurred around 4.15pm when the girder of the Gazipur Expressway fell on the car from a crane while it was being moved in front of Gazipur Paradise Tower.

The FIR for causing death due to negligence does not name anyone but lists the crane operator and the company responsible for the project, China Gezhouba Group Co Ltd, police said.

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“The case was filed at Uttara west police station on Monday night on a complaint from Afran Mondol, the brother of two of the deceased — Fahima and Jhorna,” said Md Mohsin, the station’s officer-in-charge.

“The crane operator and China Gezhouba Group Co Ltd have been listed in the FIR,” said the OC. “Police will investigate if the negligence of the crane operator and others concerned led to the accident.”

The deceased were identified as Rubel, 50, Fahima, 40, her sister Jhorna, 28, and Jhorna’s two children Jannat, 6, and Jakaria, 2, said Yeasin Gazi, inspector of Uttara west police station.

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Rubel’s son Hridoy, 26, and his wife Ria Moni, 21, escaped with serious injuries and were rushed to a local hospital. “They are currently out of danger,” said the officer.

Source: United News of Bangladesh