Risky living

Around a hundred people belonging to the families of the officers and employees of Jessore Jute Mills Limited are living amid life risk in a four-storied dilapidated building.

Visiting the spot recently, this correspondent found that different parts of the building have developed cracks and chunks of plasters are falling off.

The users have set bamboo poles in an attempt to 'prevent' fall of the roof.

This building named "Bakul" at Rajghat in Noapara upazila in Jessore was constructed in 1979, office sources said.

It has become quite unfit for living, but 96 people of 24 families are living there as there is no alternative near the jute mill, said Md Mohsin Sheikh, member of Jessore Jute Industry Workers Federation.

“Rainwater seeps through the roof and wets the floor. We can hardly sleep during rain at night," said Kazi Mahifur Rahman, an employee of the mill, living there for five years with his family.

Lovely Begum, a housewife, said, "I along with my husband and children am living here for ten years although this building is quite unfit for living. Meanwhile, earthquakes have occurred several times, making us all the more panicked.”      

Another housewife Rikta Begum said, very often brick dust falls on the floor and spoils our foods.

Workers said three other residential buildings of Jessore Jute Mills Limited under Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation are also in dilapidated conditions but those are not declared abandoned yet.

Md Mehedi Hasan, assistant engineer (additional in charge-construction) of the jute mills, said, "Earlier two risky residential buildings had been vacated upon direction from the higher authorities. Decision will be made about the other buildings when the situation demands."

Md Sazzad Hossain, DGM of the jute mill, said "Bakul" building will be declared abandoned when the engineering department terms it unfit.

The building will be repaired when fund is provided, he added.