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The Rajdhani Unnyan Kartipakkha and the Dhaka South City Corporation have yet to take any measures in response to letters from a section of shareholders of a cooperative society informing them about a number of risky buildings owned and managed by it in Shantinagar area in the capital.

Syed Harun Or Rashid, a shareholder on behalf of the other shareholders of the Aminbagh Cooperative Market Society Limited, on December 20, 2023 wrote to the Dhaka South City Corporation and on March 14, 2024 to the Rajuk, informing them about their concerns over the buildings housing markets, a mosque and a madrassah.  

Several members of the Aminbagh Cooperative Market Society Limited, the organisation running the market management, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the buildings in the market were constructed either without any approved plans or bypassing the designated approved plans. 

In his letter to then Rajuk chairman Aniusur Rahman Mia, shareholder Syed Harun Or Rashid said that the building housing the Shantinagar Bazar Super Market and Masjid is risky because the six-storey building was constructed, violating the Rajuk approval for three storeys only. 

The letter further mentioned that a three-storey building named Krishti O Kalyan Sangsad Bhaban situated on the north side of the Shantinagar Bazar Super Market and Masjid is also without any approved design.

In addition to that, 14 to 15 buildings, each 3-4 storeys tall, were constructed in the kitchen market area without Rajuk approval, said the letter, mentioning that some of these buildings house chemical warehouses which is extremely risky.  

Then Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Mia told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· end of March that the letter on Shantinagar market had yet to come to his notice.

‘We will look into the matter. If we take action against those buildings, many shop owners will be at risk ahead of Eid-ul-fitr,’ he said. Then he went into retirement from April 1.

New Rajuk chairman Major General (retired) Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarker told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on Sunday that he will send a team to inspect the buildings on Monday (today). 

A visit on Sunday found the three-storey Krishti O Kalyan Sangsad Bhaban building had on its front wall written ‘Established in 1950’. 

Cooperative shareholder Syed Harun Or Rashid told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that any big incidents like fire or building collapse can occur any time there.

‘Any such incidents will take many lives. Krishti O Kalyan Sangsad building has been constructed without any approval and foundation,’ he said, adding that if 30–40 people gather in the building for any programme it starts shaking. 

Aminbagh Cooperative president Mozibul Haque said, ‘We have no other option but to reconstruct those risky unapproved buildings. Otherwise, a terrible incident may happen any time.’

Cooperative vice-president Abu Siddik feared that an earthquake may cause building collapse claiming many lives. 

‘The market should be reconstructed,’ he also said.

The shareholders expressed the same concerns through their letter to Dhaka South City Corporation chief executive officer Md Mizanur Rahman. 

The DSCC authority, however, did not comment when ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· approached them.