Elevator collapse at Dhaka court leaves 14 injured
Fourteen people were injured after an elevator of the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge Court collapsed yesterday.
The accident took place at around 10:10am.
People who were near the spot rushed to rescue those who were trapped inside the damaged lift -- which was set up in 1980, court sources said.
Fire fighters and locals rescued all the injured and took them to nearby Dhaka National Medical College and Hospital for primary treatment.
Later, 13 of the injured, including Advocate Ayub Ali Talukder, 58, Advocate Sultan Ahmed, 30, Advocate Sowad, 35, Advocate Kowsir Alam Mithu, 35, Advocate Al-Amin, 45, liftman Jahangir, 45, bench assistant Md Sumon, 23, and litigant Sujon Mina, 23, were transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Advocate Shamsun Nahar, 35, was admitted to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR).
Court Process Server Towhid Mia told reporters that he was talking to someone beside the lift. All of a sudden, he heard a loud noise, and found that the lift had collapsed.
He, along with two others started rescuing the people who were trapped inside the lift. He rescued at least six of the injured people with the help of others and took them to the hospital. The other injured were rescued by fire fighters who rushed to the spot.
At around 11:30am, the district judge held a meeting with leaders of Dhaka Bar Association, DMP's Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner, the deputy divisional engineer of public works ministry and several other judges at his chamber.
After the meeting, the district judge formed a four-member probe body.
Contacted, Executive Engineer of public works ministry Niaz Mohammad Tanvir Alam said, “We are in charge of the lifts of the court, and Rashid Enterprise looks after the lifts.”
He also said, “The lift has a capacity of eight people, but fourteen people got into the lift. The lift collapsed due to overload.”
The Daily Star could not reach Bazlur Rashid, owner of Rashid Enterprise, for comments despite repeated attempts.
Advocate Golam Mostafa Khan, president of Dhaka Bar Association, told reporters that he had been telling the authorities concerned about the poor condition of the lift for a long time, but they did not take any initiative.
Dhaka District Judge Md Helal Chowdhury formed a four-member probe body, led by Additional District and Sessions Judge of Dhaka Prodib Kumer Roy. The body was asked to submit the probe report within seven working days.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Supreme Court Register General Dr Md Zakir Hossain and several other officials visited DMCH to see the injured at around 3:30pm.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq, law secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque and joint secretary Bikash Kumer Saha visited National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation to see another injured yesterday afternoon.
The minister directed hospital authorities to ensure better treatment for the injured.
Mohammad Alauddin, resident surgeon of DMCH's Casualty Department, told The Daily Star, “Six injured were admitted to DMCH. They are under observation now. Nothing can be said until the 48-72-hour observation period ends.”