153 buildings in DNCC area vulnerable: Mayor

The city authorities have identified a total of 153 buildings in the northern part of Dhaka as vulnerable. Of them, 12 are DNCC markets and 141 are buildings.  "These buildings will be demolished after discussion with the owners," Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq told a press conference yesterday.

The markets are at seven places, the mayor said terming those "very risky at present". Those are Gulshan-2 Kitchen Market, Gulshan Paka Market, Khilgaon Kitchen Market, Khilgaon Super Market, Kawran Bazar Wholesale Market and Paka Market, Mohammadpur Town Hall Market, Mohammadpur Town Hall Kitchen Market, Gabtoli Market and Aminbazar Truck Terminal Market.

He said the authorities also identified 141 privately owned buildings as vulnerable. Experts from Bangladesh University and Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the City Corporation have identified those vulnerable buildings. "Some of them are more vulnerable while the others partially risky," said Huq adding that those buildings were founded during the 1960s. The authorities have already served notice to the owners of the buildings, he said. "But they are yet to reply." In response to a question about the possible solution to the problem, he said, "I don't know." He also said that he cannot see any immediate and easy solution right now.