A worker died today as soil collapsed on him while digging a pit for septic tank in Andharkotha Stadium-para area under Boalmari Municipality in Faridpur.

The deceased is Shafikul Sheikh, 27, of Monna village under Boalmari upazila, said Mahmudul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Boalmari Police Station.

According to eyewitnesses, around 4:00pm, Shafikul and another worker were digging two pits, each about 20 feet deep, for a septic tank at the basement of a five-storey building owned by Mahbubur Rahman, an official of Krishi Bank. As they were placing the ring slabs, a mound of excavated soil collapsed, trapping Shafikul underneath.

Hearing his coworker's screams, locals rushed to help and, along with Boalmari Fire Service personnel, managed to retrieve Shafikul after 30-minute-long effort. He was immediately taken to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Imran Hossain, a medical officer of the health complex, confirmed that Shafikul was brought dead.

"The soil at the site was loose and sandy, triggering the collapse," said Abdul Khaleq, in-charge of Boalmari Fire Service Station.

The body has been kept at the police station. Legal action will be taken if a written complaint is lodged, said OC Mahmudul.