Fire incidents

Court rejects bail, sends two FR Tower owners to jail

A Dhaka court yesterday (Monday) sent the two owners of FR Tower to jail in connection with the case filed over the devastating fire in the high-rise building on March 28 that claimed 26 lives. Metropolitan magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury sent the duo to jail after rejecting their bail petitions in connection with the case.

Earlier, Md Jalaluddin, inspector of the Detective Branch (DB) of the police and also the investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court upon completion of their seven-day remand. He prayed to the court to keep them in jail till the investigation into the case is completed. Earlier, on March 31, SMHI Faruque, the owner of the plot of land on which FR Tower in Banani is situated and also an engineer, and Tasvirul Islam, one of the owners of the high-rise building, were placed on seven-day remand each.

During court proceedings, advocate Ahesanul Haque Samaji, counsel for Tasvirul Islam, told the court that his client had no involvement in the fire and was not responsible for any negligence. Tasvirul Islam is not the main owner of the land and, so, he has no liability in ensuring the security of the building, the advocate said.

Samaji also said his client was an elderly, ill person who needs treatment. So, he should get bail on health grounds for taking treatment, the lawyer said.

Advocate Tuhin Hawlader, counsel for Faruque, told the court that his client gave the plot of land to a developer company through an agreement. A fire incident took place at the building in 2008. After that Faruque filed a general dairy (GD) with the police station, alleging that there was no fire safety or security in the building, but the authorities did not take any step following the GD. Hence, Faruque has no liability for the incident. Besides, he is an elderly, ill person. He should get bail on health grounds for treatment, the lawyer said.

After hearing the bail pleas, the court sent both of them to jail after rejecting their bail petitions.

After the fire, sub-inspector of Banani police station, Milton Dutt, filed the case against SMHI Faruque, the owner of the land of FR Tower in Banani and also an engineer, and Tasvirul Islam, another owner of the building, Liakat Ali Khan alias Mukul, 57, chairman of Rupayan Group, the builder company, leaders of the building management committee and some unidentified persons for the death of people on account of negligence.

In the case statement, he mentioned that the accused showed utter negligence to human life and property by violating building construction rules, by not keeping safe exits so that people could escape to safety and not implementing fire safety measures.

“Such work led to the deaths of 26 people, injuries of over 100 others and damage to the properties of adjacent buildings,” the statement read.

The accused committed the offences as part of their ill motive to gain financial benefits, it also stated.

Fire incidents

Court rejects bail, sends two FR Tower owners to jail

A Dhaka court yesterday (Monday) sent the two owners of FR Tower to jail in connection with the case filed over the devastating fire in the high-rise building on March 28 that claimed 26 lives. Metropolitan magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury sent the duo to jail after rejecting their bail petitions in connection with the case. Earlier, Md Jalaluddin, inspector of the Detective Branch (DB) of the police and also the investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court upon completion of their seven-day remand. He prayed to the court to keep them in jail till the investigation into the case is completed. Earlier, on March 31, SMHI Faruque, the owner of the plot of land on which FR Tower in Banani is situated and also an engineer, and Tasvirul Islam, one of the owners of the high-rise building, were placed on seven-day remand each. During court proceedings, advocate Ahesanul Haque Samaji, counsel for Tasvirul Islam, told the court that his client had no involvement in the fire and was not responsible for any negligence. Tasvirul Islam is not the main owner of the land and, so, he has no liability in ensuring the security of the building, the advocate said. Samaji also said his client was an elderly, ill person who needs treatment. So, he should get bail on health grounds for taking treatment, the lawyer said. Advocate Tuhin Hawlader, counsel for Faruque, told the court that his client gave the plot of land to a developer company through an agreement. A fire incident took place at the building in 2008. After that Faruque filed a general dairy (GD) with the police station, alleging that there was no fire safety or security in the building, but the authorities did not take any step following the GD. Hence, Faruque has no liability for the incident. Besides, he is an elderly, ill person. He should get bail on health grounds for treatment, the lawyer said. After hearing the bail pleas, the court sent both of them to jail after rejecting their bail petitions. After the fire, sub-inspector of Banani police station, Milton Dutt, filed the case against SMHI Faruque, the owner of the land of FR Tower in Banani and also an engineer, and Tasvirul Islam, another owner of the building, Liakat Ali Khan alias Mukul, 57, chairman of Rupayan Group, the builder company, leaders of the building management committee and some unidentified persons for the death of people on account of negligence. In the case statement, he mentioned that the accused showed utter negligence to human life and property by violating building construction rules, by not keeping safe exits so that people could escape to safety and not implementing fire safety measures. Such work led to the deaths of 26 people, injuries of over 100 others and damage to the properties of adjacent buildings, the statement read. The accused committed the offences as part of their ill motive to gain financial benefits, it also stated.