Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) today (Aug 19) said that the helper was operating the crane which lost balance and dropped a girder on a Gazipur-bound car in Dhaka's Uttara.

During that time, the chief operator of the vehicle Al Amin was instructing his helper Rakib Hossain from outside.

Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Legal and Media Wing of RAB, was addressing a press briefing at RAB Media Centre in the city's Karwan Bazar on Thursday.

“Rakib had no experience in operating a crane,” he added. 

On August 15, a heavy girder lifted by a crane under the government project came crashing down on a passing car on Uttara's Jashimuddin Road, killing five members of a family.

The car’s owner Rubel Mia, 60, his wife Fahima, 40, Fahima’s sister Jharna, 28, and Jharna’s two children, Jannat, 6, and Zakaria, 2, died in the incident.

On August 17, members of RAB arrested ten people, including crane operator, helper, and security personnel of the contractor company, in connection with the incident.

Earlier, Afran Mondal Babu, brother of two victims – Fahima Begum and Jharna Begum, filed a case with Uttara West Police Station against five people, including the concerned officials of China Gezhouba Group Co Ltd, the contractor firm, and the crane operator.

The High Court (HC) on August 17, issued a rule asking authorities concerned to explain as to why it shall not pass order to give Taka one crore to each of the families of five people killed after a part of a box girder of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project fell from a crane on a car in Dhaka's Uttara area on August 15.

The High Court also asked as to why the “inaction” of the respondents in stopping such accidents shall not be declared illegal. It also directed to submit a report on the steps taken by BRT project for public safety while constructing the infrastructure in last five years, within two months.

BDST: 1311 HRS, AUG 18, 2022
MN/SMS