Selim Reza:

The three members’ probe body formed by the district administration over the death of two children after breaching the substandard hand-washing basin constructed by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) at Shaluavita Bazar in Sirajganj Sadar upazila during the Corona pandemic has found negligence of the concerned DPHE officials.

Partial view of the collapsed basin. File photo

“If the vulnerable basin had been removed or renovated for the next time (after ease of the pandemic), Sirajganj dwellers would never have been seen such an incident. Two children would not face such as tragic death,” seeking anonymity, one of the investigation team members said.

He further said, “Lack of maintenance or renovation was the main reason behind the weakening and collapsing of the basin. The substandard basin was not removed or renovated after the COVID-19 pandemic situation normalized. This is what caused that tragedy.”

In this case, DPHE officials were mainly responsible for their negligence. If they were aware about it, the two children would not have died; he said adding that, the DPHE officials should had been more conscious in this matter.

On the other hand, no action was taken so far against the officials responsible for the negligence on duty, though about three months are on the way to past after the fatal incident, relevant people complained.

Not only that, no measure to compensate the two victims’ families was taken by the responsible DPHE.

After the incident, District Administration announced a grant of Tk 25,000 for each of the death victims’ families and assured to take necessary action against the responsible by carrying a free, fair and transparent investigation.

Md. Abdul Based, DRRO, Sirajganj. Photo: Collected

Md Abdul Based, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) told that, “District administration has already provided Tk 25,000 to each of the two death victims’ families and Tk 10,000 to an injured victim. Out of this, I have no knowledge about any other assistance given to their families.”

The three members’ investigation committee formed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Sirajganj after the incident has already submitted the report to the authorities concerned.

As per their findings, they recommended for the removal of other such as risky basins or keep these under maintenance for further use.

The investigation committee was also headed by Md Assadiqzaman, Additional District Magistrate (ADM).

Md Nazran Rouf, Additional Superintendent of Police in Sirajganj Sadar Circle and Rezaur Rohman, Executive Engineer of LGED were other members of the committee.

Exen Md. Rokonuzzaman

While contacted over cell phone, Md Rokonuzzaman, Executive Engineer of DPHE in Sirajganj said, “A total of 47 basins were constructed in Sirajganj during the FY 2020-21 centering the Corona pandemic. Of them, 16 risky basins were removed after the Shaluavita tragedy, while 31 are still on use as active.

Replying to a query about compensation, he said, “As the district administration has provided grant to the victims’ families on behalf of the government, DPHE did not take any special initiative in this regard because of both the District Administration and DPHE act for government.

It is to be mentioned that, on January 25 last, two children died and two others were injured after collapsing an abandoned hand-washing basin and wall built at Shaluavita Baza’ar in Sirajganj Sadar upazila by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) during the Covid-19 pandemic with the aim to protect the lives of people from the clutch of deadly Corona virus. But the structure was caused of two children’ death instead of ensuring safety due to apathy of the DPHE officials.

The deceased were identified as Rayhan Sheikh, 6, son of Faridul Islam Sheikh of Char Shoilabari village in Sirajganj Sadar upazila and Sumi Khatun, 2, daughter of Sajib Sheikh of the same village.

The tragic incident took place at around 3:30 pm on the day, when four children of the neighboring Char Shoilabari village were playing near the hand-washing basin. The basin and it wall collapsed on them.

Nobo Kumar, a social worker and local politician said, “DPHE officials can’t avert the liability of such tragic incident. The irresponsible officers should bring to book in which such as incidents are not occurred anywhere of the country.”

Md. Aminul Islam, DC, Sirajganj.
Photo: Collected

He also urged the authorities concerned to remove all the vulnerable structures or bring those under renovation for future use.

Aminul Islam, Deputy Commissioner in Sirajganj said, “We have sent the investigation report to the concerned ministry. But, what step has been taken next, I don’t know.”