Safety during flyover construction

Many of the readers have watched footages of flyover collapse in the television channels that took dozens of lives in India. However, there were causalities at flyover sites in Bangladesh too. There was a recent accident in the capital that took life of a worker some weeks ago. Rabbi Ahmed Emon, a construction worker died in the incident after an iron rod fell on his head on March 16, 2016. It drew media attention when learned advocate Amit Das Gupta submitted a petition before High Court seeking compensating for the family of victim.

'To enjoy the protection of the law, and to be treated in accordance with law, and only in accordance with law, is the inalienable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Bangladesh, and in particular no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law'- said in Article 31 of the constitution.This article is the celebrated provision of the Constitution of Bangladesh and occupies a unique place as a fundamental right.

It has further been stated in Article 32 of the constitution, “No person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty save in accordance with law”. However, challenges to the right to life come from many directions, including from arbitrary action by the police or security forces, and from inadequate or lack of enforcement of safety laws and regulations. Similar to Article 31, this very article also guarantees right to life and personal liberty to citizens and aliens and is enforceable against the State.

The learned lawyer took the opportunity to make authorities involved with the construction of flyover accountable for their alleged negligence. Upon initial hearing, High Court directed the concerned authorities to take adequate safety measures in the Moghbazaar-Mouchak flyover area within 15 days to avoid similar accident.

To conclude, Prime Minister recently inaugurated a two-kilometer section of the 8.5 km Mouchak-Moghbazar flyover in Dhaka. The deadline for the project is June next year and the safety concern remains as major portion of the construction work still lies ahead.

Would safety of construction workers and passerby be ensured in remaining construction work?