Trench Collapse Kills Two Workers

Two construction workers have been killed and two others injured in a tragic accident during excavation work for a sewage system project in Chattogram’s Halishahor area. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Agrabad B-4 Access Road, where workers were engaged in digging a trial pit for the Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) sewerage infrastructure project.

According to hospital and project sources, the victims were immediately rescued from the collapsed site and transported to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. On arrival, attending physicians declared two workers dead, while the remaining two were admitted for emergency treatment.

The deceased have been identified as Md Rakib (30) and Md Ainul Islam (22). The injured workers are Sagar and Ershad, both of whom are currently receiving treatment in the hospital’s emergency department. Doctors have confirmed that their condition is stable, though they remain under close observation due to injuries sustained in the collapse.

Preliminary information from project officials indicates that a trial pit, approximately 2.5 metres deep, had been excavated to assess soil stability prior to pipeline installation. During the work, a section of the pit wall suddenly gave way, causing a mass of earth to collapse onto the workers inside. Construction equipment operating nearby was also partially buried, intensifying the severity of the incident and complicating rescue efforts.

The contract for the project segment was being executed by China Hydro, a foreign construction firm engaged in infrastructure development works in the city. Initial assessments suggest that inadequate protective measures for deep excavation, combined with insufficient evaluation of soil stability, may have contributed to the fatal collapse. However, a formal investigation has been announced to determine the exact cause.

The project director stated that a committee will be formed to investigate the incident in detail. He also confirmed that compensation for the victims’ families will be arranged through recovery from the contractor, in line with project provisions.

The Chattogram sewerage modernisation initiative, approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in 2018, is a major infrastructure programme aimed at upgrading the city’s sanitation system. The project includes the construction of a treatment plant capable of processing 100 million litres of wastewater per day, a separate facility for septic waste treatment, and approximately 200 kilometres of sewer pipelines. Completion is targeted within the current year.

The accident has reignited concerns over workplace safety standards in large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in relation to deep excavation work. Questions are being raised about whether adequate shoring systems, soil stabilisation measures, and on-site supervision protocols were properly implemented at the site.

Incident Overview

The tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety protocols in high-risk construction zones, particularly where deep excavation and unstable soil conditions are involved.