Justice remains a distant cry; victims continue to suffer
People rescue garment workers trapped under the rubble of the Rana Plaza building after it collapsed, in Savar, near Dhaka, April 24, 2013. Photo: REUTERS
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People rescue garment workers trapped under the rubble of the Rana Plaza building after it collapsed, in Savar, near Dhaka, April 24, 2013. Photo: REUTERS
Today (April 24) marks the ninth anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, which was the deadliest structural failure in modern human history and the worst industrial accident to hit the garment industry.
A total of 1,138 people died and at least 2,000 others were maimed in this accident.
According to a recent survey conducted by ActionAid Bangladesh, around 56.5% of survivors of the Rana Plaza collapse said their physical health was getting worse.
Victims who have reported a deterioration in their physical health complain of waist pain, headache, hand and leg pain and back pain among the main problems.
In terms of mental health, currently 48.5% of surviving victims of Rana Plaza suffer from psychological trauma, while last year 12.5% of survivors suffered from this problem.
Rescue workers rescue a garment worker from the rubble of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar outside Dhaka April 27, 2013. Photo: REUTERS
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Rescue workers rescue a garment worker from the rubble of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar outside Dhaka April 27, 2013. Photo: REUTERS
On the occasion of this day, several workers’ organizations organized a protest rally in front of Rana Plaza on Saturday 23 April.
They also lit candles on the temporary altar in Rana Plaza in memory of the victims.
The Federation of Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers has called for April 24 to be declared a day of mourning for garment workers.
On July 18, 2016, charges were laid against 41 defendants, including the owner of the Rana Plaza building, Sohel Rana, in the murder case filed following the tragic incident.
However, High Court (HC) stays, prompted by criminal appeals by defendants challenging the charging orders, have hampered the progress of the trial in the murder case.
Of the defendants, only Sohel Rana is in jail, while 31 are out on bail. Three of the defendants are deceased and the others are on the run.
Rescuers try to find survivors from the rubble of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar, about 30 km (19 miles) from Dhaka May 4, 2013. REUTERS
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Rescuers try to find survivors from the rubble of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar, about 30 km (19 miles) from Dhaka May 4, 2013. REUTERS
Many believe that sheer negligence by the owners of the building was to blame for the collapse and that it could have been avoided by being aware of the building’s security measures.
Following the disaster, IndustriALL and UNI Global Union developed the legally binding Bangladesh Agreement on Fire and Building Safety.
Since its launch in 2013, Accord engineers have performed more than 38,000 inspections at factories covering two million workers. Over 120,000 fire, building, and electrical hazards have been fixed.
In accordance with compliance requirements, a safety committee has been formed in most garment factories across the country.
Rescue workers rescue a woman from the rubble of the Rana Plaza building 17 days after the building collapsed in Savar on May 10, 2013. Photo: REUTERS
Rescue workers rescue a woman from the rubble of the Rana Plaza building 17 days after the building collapsed in Savar on May 10, 2013. Photo: REUTERS