9 injured as RU under-construction dorm roof collapses

The roof of Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Hall of Rajshahi University (RU) has collapsed on Tuesday (January 30) noon, leaving at least nine construction workers injured.

Many of the workers are feared to be buried beneath the debris and many remained missing since the incident.

The incident took place at around 12:30pm.

A total of eight units of Fire Service and Civil Defence reached the spot to rescue the trapped workers.

According to eyewitnesses and university sources, many of the construction workers are believed to be buried beneath the debris and many remained missing after the roof of Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Hall of Rajshahi University (RU) collapsed. Rescue operation is underway. The injured have been admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Abu Bakar, the engineer in charge of Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Hall, said: “The work was going fine as long as we were there during the act of welding the roof of an auditorium. There must be an irregularity in that casting after we left the spot. That’s why, it collapsed.”

The project Director Khandaker Shahriar said: “I heard about the incident. However, I am out of Rajshahi. Necessary action will be taken after investigating the incident.”

Majid Sons Construction Limited, the contractor of the Rooppur pillow scandal, got the work of constructing the 10-storey Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Residential Hall and the 20-storey academic building under the RU project, according to the university’s engineering department