Three people, including an eight-year-old boy, were injured when a lift crashed down after its cables snapped at a housing complex for public servants in the city’s Mirpur area on Friday morning.
The injured were identified as former Prime Minister’s Office employee Mostafizur Rahman, 62, Nais Ahmed, 40, and his son Md Wasi, 8.
They were taken to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation for treatment.
A doctor on duty at the hospital said Nais suffered fractures in both legs.
The accident occurred at building No. 1 near Mirpur-1 Ansar Camp around 6:00am, said Rafiqul Islam, an employee of the Department of Government Transport and president of the building committee.
According to Md Shahabuddin Ahmed, a personal officer at the Bangladesh Public Commission Secretariat and general secretary of the building committee, the three residents of the 4th floor entered the lift after Fajr prayers.
“After a short while, the lift suddenly fell with a loud bang. Hearing the sound, the security guard went there and heard cries for help. Several people from nearby then rushed to the spot, rescued them and took them to hospital,” he said, citing eyewitnesses.
Residents alleged that the lift frequently remained out of order and was being repaired temporarily despite repeated complaints.
Administrative officer Samir Chandra Shil said the lift remained dysfunctional for a long time and was being operated after makeshift repairs despite being unsafe.
He said complaints about the lift were sent to the Public Works Department several times, but no effective step was taken.
Mokshed Ali, a senior assistant at the Ministry of Defence, said the lift was repaired and operated despite repeated complaints that it was beyond repair.
“We demand that the appropriate authorities take immediate steps to resolve the issue,” he said.
The accident has caused panic among residents of the housing complex.
Residents also alleged that the complex has eight buildings and that the lifts in most of them are in poor condition and not properly maintained. They fear that a bigger accident could occur if the problems are not addressed.