Sarishabari LSD collapses partially before use

JAMALPUR, July 18: A newly built office for the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Sarishabari Local Supply Depot (LSD) in the district has partially collapsed before it could be used. Part of the building has subsided into the ground, and large cracks have appeared in the boundary wall.

The building, constructed at a cost of about Tk 19 lakh, was allegedly built with poor workmanship, including pillars without steel reinforcement (rods). The defects became visible only two years after construction.

According to sources, the Dockyard and Engineering Works began the project in 2020 under a development project of the Directorate General of Food beside the main road in Dhanata area of Sarishabari Municipality at a cost of Tk 18,67,714. Although the work was supposed to be completed in 2021, it was handed over in 2024. The building had remained unused since then.

A visit to the site found that continuous rainfall had washed away the soil beneath the building. One room on the northern side and part of the structure collapsed, leaving a large hole in the ground. Cracks have also appeared in other parts of the building and along the boundary wall. Local people fear that more heavy rain could cause the entire building and boundary wall to collapse into the nearby canal.

OC LSD Rubina Khatun, said, “I joined here recently. Since my joining, I have been working from the old office building.”
Upazila Food Controller Shamsul Haque alleged, “No steel rods were used in the pillars, and there were several construction defects. Cracks appeared soon after the building was handed over, so it was never used for official work. Continuous rain recently washed away the soil beneath the building, causing part of it to collapse.”

Acting District Food Controller of Jamalpur, Asaduzzaman Khan, said, “After hearing about the incident, I visited the site. Regional Maintenance Engineer Abu Huraira from Mymensingh also inspected the damaged building on Wednesday. We have informed the higher authorities in writing, and they will decide the next steps.”