Patuakhali registrar's office turns risky
Building lacks repair, staff work amid panic
PICTURE TELLS THE TALE: Staff at ramshackle Patuakhali district registrar's office find it hard to work with attention due to fear of accident anytime. Photo: STAR
Over 200 staff of Patuakhali district registrar's office pass their office hours amid panic as the 43-year-old office building has turned risky due to lack of repair. During a visit to the office on Thursday, this correspondent found rod of roofs exposed at many places and several cracks on the walls. Chunks of plaster fallen off roofs and walls were seen on the floors. Hanging electric cables pose risk for employees and visitors. Built in 1968, the building houses District Registry Office on the first floor and Sadar upazila sub-register's office on the ground floor. Several lakh of record books of land (locally called balam boi) kept in the building are also getting damaged as rainwater enter the building through walls, said Sultan Ahmed, a record keeper. "We are working here amid life risk as chunks of plaster often fall off. As rainwater entering the building causes damage to valuable documents. After construction in 1968, this building saw renovation work only once in 2005," said Sohrab Hossain, office assistant of Sadar upazila sub-registrar's office. "We sent several letters to the higher authorities concerned demanding immediate renovation of the building but to no effect," said Md Jahangir Alam, sub-registrar of Patuakhali Sadar upazila. "We are vulnerable to accident anytime due to the dilapidated condition of the building," said District Registrar Khondokar Shahiduzzaman. The 100-metre road connecting the office is also in an awful condition. Rainwater remains stagnant on the road, much to the sufferings to staff and visitors. When contacted, Md Mizanur Rahman, sub-assistant engineer for Patuakhali Public Works Department, said, "We have prepared an estimate of Tk 15 lakh to repair the building and the connecting road for sending to the higher authorities. After approval by them, we will start repair work."
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