Boy killed in Narayanganj building collapse

A 14-year-old boy died and another remains missing as rescue operation goes on after a four-storey building collapsed in Narayanganj. Four people sustained injuries in the mishap. 

The sixth grader, Iftekhar Ahmed Wazed, remained missing till this report was filed at 9:30pm on Sunday. Firefighters were conducting the rescue operation.   

Iftekhar's father Jahirul Islam Rubel said his son went to a ground floor apartment of the building to learn Arabic. The building collapsed suddenly and six persons got trapped inside. 

Locals began the rescue soon after the breakdown, Rubel added. 

Rajib Ahmed, a tenant of an adjacent building, took part in the rescue. He said the building collapsed all of a sudden around 4:15pm on Sunday afternoon.

Rajib said they rescued five persons including the 14-year-old boy Shoeb Akter, who was declared dead after being taken to the Narayanganj General Hospital. 

Runa Begum, a rescued, said there was a "big bang" in the afternoon. She then fainted and could not remember anything.

Runa busted into tears when she came to the spot after receiving primary treatment at the local hospital. She said four of a family own the building. All of them were out of their homes during the accident.

Deputy Director (Dhaka Division) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Debasish Saha said three firefighting units were conducting the rescue. 

"We are drilling holes to trace if there are any survivors there, and also searching the debris," he added. Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jashim Uddin said they were monitoring the operation.

"We are scrutinising whether the building had any construction fault or permission from the authorities," added the DC.