Japanese experts, along with the local engineers, have conducted systematic retrofitting construction work at a garment factory in Ashulia to turn the unit into an earthquake-resistant one for ensuring safety of the workers. DK Knitwear Ltd, a sister concern of DK Group, has taken the initiative to conduct the retrofitting through a soft loan of 850,000 US dollar provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Retrofitting is a technology that helps turn a vulnerable building earthquake resistant without demolishing it. Usually it costs 30 to 40 per cent of the new construction cost of the targeted building. According to JICA, after the tragic incident of Rana Plaza, the Japanese government initiated the project titled “RMG Sector Safe Environment Project” by creating a Tk 1.00 billion fund with the Bangladesh Bank for financing the RMG (readymade garment) owners so that factory buildings turn safe for the workers. Under the programme, JICA opened up the doors for the RMG owners to assess their factory buildings with Japanese technical support and then take the opportunity of the fund provided by JICA for strengthening building condition through retrofitting. DK Knitwear Ltd is the first RMG factory that receives the JICA fund and assistance of Japanese experts after going through long procedure, sources said. JICA said a total of 300 RMG factories applied for the facility. Of them, 214 were selected for the assessment by another JICA-funded project called “Capacity Development on Natural Disaster Resistant Techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings (CNCRP)”, implemented by Public Works Department (PWD). DK Knitwear Managing Director Syed AQM Zahid said his factory building was constructed before the formulation of Bangladesh National Building Code 2006 and expressed hope that retrofitting work will have a positive impact on the RMG sector in the country as workers get panicked and suspicious about any minor issues they come across after the tragic incident of Rana plaza. JICA’s Senior Representative Hiroyuki Tomita said Japanese technology and experience to make building earthquake-resistant can help Bangladesh to strengthen its vulnerable RMG buildings for avoiding any tragic incident like Rana plaza in future. The JICA will implement a large project soon to cover more vulnerable RMG buildings of the country, he said. During the four-year CNCRP project (from 2011 to 2015), to end next month, the local engineers have been imparted training on different techniques of retrofitting technology from a team of JICA experts. Under the project, the Japanese experts and PWD engineers have already retrofitted the Tejgaon fire station to make an example.
