Dilapidated Paikgachha court building poses safety risk

PAIKGACHHA, KHULNA, Sept 7: A dilapidated building housing the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Paikgachha Upazila of the district has raised serious safety concerns after a large section of the ceiling of a court office collapsed late Wednesday night.

The incident occurred at the CSI office of the court around midnight. As the collapse happened after office hours, no one was injured. However, the incident has sparked concern among judges, lawyers, police personnel, court staff and litigants over the condition of the building.

Court officials and people concerned said the consequences could have been serious had the ceiling collapsed during working hours, when the court remains crowded with officials and people seeking legal services.

The building has reportedly not undergone any major renovation or maintenance for years. Large cracks have developed in several pillars and walls, while different sections of the roof have become weak.

For the past two years, court proceedings have reportedly been conducted under a makeshift tent beneath the ceiling of a courtroom because of concerns over its condition. Sensitive case documents are also being kept in the risky building.

The Senior Judicial Magistrate Court and Senior Assistant Judge Court in Paikgachha were established in 1983. More than four decades later, the court building has yet to receive the necessary renovation or modernisation, according to people familiar with the situation.

Paikgachha is about 66 kilometres from Khulna city, and the court serves people from the upazila and surrounding areas.

Local residents and court-related stakeholders have urged the authorities to take immediate steps to repair the building or construct a new court complex.

They said ensuring the safety of judges, officials, lawyers, police personnel and litigants should be treated as a priority.

Md Tarikul Islam, CSI of Paikgachha Court, confirmed the ceiling collapse.

He said the incident occurred late at night, preventing a major accident. Had the ceiling collapsed during office hours, it could have fallen directly on him, he added.