The collapsed girders of the under-construction flyover at Bahaddarhat in Chittagong in November 2012. Photo: File

A Chittagong court yesterday indicted eight persons over the death of 11 people, who were killed when concrete girders of an under-construction flyover collapsed at Bahaddarhat in Chittagong in 2012.
Metropolitan Sessions Judge in Chittagong SM Mojibur Rahman framed the charges against the eight accused after rejecting the petitions for no confidence, said court sources.
The accused are project manager Md Giasuddin, supervision engineer Md Manjurul Islam, and construction firm staff Aminur Rahman, Abdul Jalil, Abdul Hai, Md Mosharef Hossain, Md Shahjahan Ali and Md Rafiqul Islam.
The court also rejected the petition moved by the defence lawyers for releasing the accused from the charges. It fixed July 16 for the next hearing.
On October 24, 2013, SM Shahidul Islam, inspector of Chandgaon Police Station and also investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet accusing the eight persons.
The charges were framed against the accused for not ensuring safety measures and adequate lighting during the construction, negligence in responsibility and work supervision, said Fakhruddin Chowdhury, public prosecutor of the court.
The construction work was a combined effort of three parties -- Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), advisory organization SARM Associates, and construction firm Mir Akhtar and Parisha Associates. If the staff of these parties had given proper attention to the construction work of the flyover, the casualties would not have happened, said the PP.
He also said they lodged the petitions as more investigation was needed since the names of 18 of the 25 accused were dropped in the charge sheet.
On November 24, 2012, three girders of the under-construction flyover collapsed and fell on an adjacent kitchen market, killing 11 people and injuring 27 others.
Following the incident, police filed a case with Chandgaon Police Station on November 26 accusing 25 people, including CDA Chairman Abdus Salam, executive engineer Habibur Rahman, assistant engineer Tanjib Hossain, deputy assistant engineer Salauddin Ahmed.
The CDA high-ups and officials of the advisory organisation were dropped in the charge sheet, said court sources.