Fear of quake heightens

Kabiraj Building (left) and Shuktara Hotel (right), the two century-old buildings of the city, might collapse any moment as they were declared abandoned years back. Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder

Most of these dilapidated buildings already crossed over 100 years and turned useless.

Over 50 buildings including public library house, developed cracks during the last week's tremors in Chittagong.

The earthquake research centre based at the engineering university here asked the owners and residents of those buildings time and again to vacate and dismantle them as early as possible, but it could draw little attention from them, the sources said.

Research centre convenor Dr. Jahangir Alam said, "These buildings must be dismantled immediately, otherwise it may cause havoc if Chittagong is jolted by a major earthquake".

"With the collapse of those buildings during catastrophic disasters, all the inmates will surely be killed as there is no chance of survival," Jahangir said. "I don't understand why the residents of those houses are taking risks," he added. "The authorities also are not taking initiative to demolish those dilapidated structures," he said.

"Even some people are using the dilapidated old buildings after slight renovation as kindergarten schools and clinics," Jahangir said.

"We have been trying to create awareness for the last seven years through seminars and symposiums for earmarking the risky buildings here for demolition, but who cares," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has taken initiative to demolish the dilapidated structures, official sources said.

Mayor A.B.M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury said we would serve notices to the owners of those dilapidated risky buildings soon for dismantling them on their own. If they do not comply with our notices we will be bound to act according to law, the mayor said.

In reply to a question he said the old building of CCC is not risky. It has not become that much old and it doesn't need to be demolished now," he added.

But some quarters differed with the mayor's view about the old building and said it should be demolished as it could collapse in case of major tremor.

Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Brigadier General Sharful Alam said CDA has nothing to do with the demolition of dilapidated buildings as it is duty of the city corporation and public works department.

Most of the ramshackle buildings are located at Anderkilla, Dewanbazar, Feringhibazar, Patharghata, Alkaran, Chawkbazar, Jubilee road, Teribazar, Bandel road, Miah Khan Nagar, Station road, Madarbari, Agrabad, Nalapara, Patantuli, Moghaltuli and Hazarigoli, CCC sources said.

The century old Chittagong court building was supposed to be dismantled long ago as it became risky, public works department sources said.

A project of Tk 36 crore was taken up to replace the court building situated on the top of Parir Pahar (Fairy hill).

The demolition of court building was kept in abeyance in the face of protest by some local civil society groups for its preservation as a historical monument.