11th Anniv Of Rana Plaza Collapse
The deadliest tragedy in the history of the country was the collapse of Rana Plaza building in Savar which shook the world.
At least 1,136 people, mostly garment workers, were killed and over 2,500 others injured after the nine-storey building came crashing down in Savar on April 24 in 2013.
A decade has passed since then, but the trial of the incident is not over yet. Today (Wednesday) is the 11th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse incident.
Different right bodies, workers organisations and left-leaning political parties, including Rana Plaza Survivors Association, usually arrange various programmes every year, remembering the victims of the tragedy.
Police filed a murder case accusing Sohel Rana, the building owner, who has been in jail since his arrest.
Trial in the murder case filed over Rana Plaza collapse began officially on January 31, 2022 by recording statements of the witnesses.
On July 18, 2016, Dhaka District and Session Court Judge SM Kuddus Zaman framed charges against the accused and passed an order to begin the trial.
But it got barred as most of the accused appealed to the higher court challenging legality of the order.
On January 31, 2022, after clearing the appeals, District and Sessions Court Judge AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan recorded the statement of plaintiff, then Sub-Inspector of Savar police station Wali Ashraf.
Over the tragic incident then SI of Savar police station Wali Ashraf filed a murder case accusing the owner and others of dereliction and negligence in building construction.
On June 1, 2015, Assistant Superintendent of Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police Bijoy Krishna Kar submitted a charge sheet in the case against 41 people including the building owner Sohel Rana.
On August 29, 2017, Sohel Rana was sentenced to three years simple imprisonment in a graft case.
The trial proceedings in another case filed over violation of building codes are now stalled due to High Court stay orders. Rajuk lodged the case on the day of the collapse.
