Girl killed as rod of under-construction school building falls

An eight-year-old schoolgirl died yesterday after iron rod being lifted to an under-construction building in her school fell on her at Sunamganj's Tahirpur upazila.

The deceased was identified as Usha Moni, daughter of Anwar Hossain and a second grader at Sreepur Government Primary School.

"The incident occurred after Usha stepped out of her classroom during class hours to drink water," said Syed Iftekher Ahmed, OC of Tahirpur Police Station.

Critically injured, the girl died on her way to a hospital.

"Despite repeated requests and warnings, the contractor were lifting iron rods to the building's roof using ropes instead of carrying them via the stairs. His carelessness claimed the life of one of our students," said Mofazzal Hossain, headteacher of the school.

The victim's father has filed a complaint.

"The building is being constructed by the Local Government Engineering Department. We are looking into the matter and will take necessary steps soon," said Syed Abul Khayer, upazila education officer in Tahirpur.