Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged people of all strata to extend all out cooperation and help from their respective position in the rescue operation to save lives from the tragic building collapse in Savar.
She criticized the role of those including labour leaders and architects who remained busy in talk shows instead of going out to help with the rescue operation.
“Rescue operation in the building collapse is still going on and we’re doing everything necessary in this regard. Rescue operation of such magnitude takes time. Everyone should be aware of this; because any hurry could lead to loss of more lives including those still alive,” Hasina said.
Rather than detaining those responsible for the tragedy, the government’s top priority now is to save lives, those still trapped under the debris of the collapsed building, she said in her introductory speech at a views exchange meeting with the grassroots leaders and workers of Tangail Awami League.
A one-minute silence was also observed at the meeting in memory of those killed in the building collapse.
Rana Plaza, an eight-storey building, housing four garment factories, a shopping complex and a branch of Brac Bank collapsed Wednesday morning, trapping huge number of people amid tons of debris.
Hasina said the rescuers are conducting their operation round the clock and providing food, light and oxygen to those still alive in the debris of the building.
So far, some 1,500 people have been rescued from the debris along with the bodies of some 154 people, she said.
The Prime Minister said that soon after the incident, teams of Army, police, BGB, RAB, Fire Service and Civil Defense had began the rescue operation within just 10 minutes of the tragedy. Besides, Ministers, State Ministers and local ruling party leaders also rushed to the spot to assist the operation.
She alleged that when the injured people were struggling for their lives amid the debris of the collapsed building, some labour leaders were seen busy in attending talk-shows instead of going for assisting in the rescue operation, looking after the injured workers and conveying sympathy to the breaved family members of the deceased.
Taking a swipe at the renowned architects who are strongly demanding immediate arrest and trial of the culprits responsible for the building collapse, Hasina said the urgency is now to carry on with the rescue operation and rescuing the injured alive.
She also said that it is a reality that 90 percent of the buildings in Bangladesh are being built without properly abiding by the building codes. “For this, shall we have to demolish all the buildings right now? Why was there no awareness before the constructions?”
The Prime Minister urged all to assist in the rescue operation, not keeping themselves busy in talk shows. She said: “Rescue at least one people. Rush to the spot, have a look and assist in the rescue. Don’t say why delay is taking place? Prove yourself that you’re also engaged in the operation and then you can see why it takes time.”
She said that if a major earthquake strikes the capital, probably there will be no one left to conduct the rescue operation. It will be found that even those who remain busy in criticism do not spare minimal land for roads and other emergency services to conduct rescue operations.
Hasina also called upon all not to construct buildings at all places — like ponds, canals and water bodies — considering that Bangladesh is a quake-prone country.
She suggested all to check the gas, electricity and water lines, and if possible, the overall structure of a building in case any quake, even a minor one hits the country, to avert loss of life and property.
The Prime Minister informed that due medical treatments are being provided to those injured from building collapse in Savar and the Health Minister is personally looking after this matter.
She thanked the BNP-led 18-party alliance for the withdrawal of their countrywide hartal following the collapse of the building in Savar on Wednesday as this decision helped to make the rescue operation easier.
Hasina said that after the cracks developed in the building it was not fit for use, but the workers had to resume their work on Wednesday and suddenly the building collapsed.
“It is very difficult to accept such a calamity,” she said, adding: “Poor people usually come here to change their fate, not to return home as dead bodies because of such incidents.”
Meanwhile, Army, police, RAB personnel, fire brigade workers and volunteers were still conducting their rescue operation frantically looking for survivors amid the debris.
Source: UNB Connect
