A terrible tragedy in the history of the country was the Rana Plaza collapse in Savar. The incident that shook the world beyond the boundaries of the country. On April 24, 2013 in Savar, 11 years ago, the Rana Plaza building in Savar collapsed. One thousand and 134 people were killed due to the collapse of the illegally erected factory building. More than two thousand were injured. All of them were garment workers. In this incident, two cases were registered under the murder and building construction laws. None of this has made much progress.
Testimony has started in the murder case, but there is a stay order in other cases. The accused side says that Sohen Rana is detained in jail without trial as the trial in two cases has not been completed. The prosecution says that several years passed before the testimony began as the accused went to the High Court to frame the charges. The state party hopes that the two cases will be settled soon.
It is known that about eight years ago, the judicial court set the date for the hearing of these two cases. After almost five and a half years of framing of charges, testimony in the murder case has begun. On the other hand, the Building Construction Act case filed in the same incident has been stayed by the order of the High Court. As the case was suspended, the testimony did not start even eight years after the complaint was made.
According to court sources, eight accused went to the High Court challenging the validity of the complaint in the murder case. Of these, seven applications were settled. Another defendant in the case, the former Commissioner of Ward No. 7 of Savar Municipality, Haji Mohammad Ali, has suspended the judicial proceedings of the case. The testimony of the then Sub-Inspector (SI) of Savar Police Station, Wali Ashraf, began on January 31, 2022 in the case against the other accused.
Of the 594 witnesses in the case, 83 have completed their testimony. Testimony of 84 persons is currently ongoing. Last April 21 of this year was the date of taking evidence in the case. Four people testified in court that day. The interrogation of three of the four has been completed but the interrogation of one has not been completed. The court fixed April 28 as a new date for the next hearing in the case. On the other hand, some defendants filed a revision application in the District and Sessions Judge’s Court in the case of Building Construction Act. The court acquitted the accused Phantom Apparels Limited chairman Muhammad Aminul Islam from the case.
Besides, another defendant in the case, the former mayor of Savar municipality. On November 7, 2021, the High Court ordered a stay of judicial proceedings in the case for one year on behalf of Refatullah. Regarding the murder case, Bimal Samaddar, counsel for the state side of the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge’s Court, said, “We are sincerely trying to settle the discussed case quickly.” Hope the judicial process of the case can be completed soon.
Regarding the case of Building Construction Act, the lawyer of the state Anwarul Kabir Babul said that the hearing of the case could not be started as the judicial proceedings of the case were suspended in the High Court. Besides, no new date has been set for taking testimony. Farooq Ahmed, the lawyer of the accused, said that the accused Sohail Rana cannot be released as the trial of the two cases has not been completed. He is being held in prison without trial. In the garment worker murder case, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Savar police station Wali Ashraf filed a case of ‘negligent and defective murder’ in the construction of the building.
On April 26, 2015, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Vijaykrishna filed a charge sheet against 41 people including Kar Bhavan owner Sohel Rana. 594 people were witnesses in the case. Abdul Khalek, father of building owner Sohail Rana, Abu Bakr Siddique and Abul Hossain died among the 41 accused in the case. Excluding three people, the number of accused in the murder case is now 38. In the case of building construction law, the officer in charge of Rajuk was constructed without complying with the building construction law. Helal Uddin filed a case in Savar police station. On June 14, 2016, Chief Judicial Magistrate of Dhaka Mostafizur Rahman framed charges against the accused.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of 11 years of Ranna Plaza tragedy, Bangladesh Garments Sramik Solidarity has organized a photo exhibition and discussion on ’11 years of Rana Plaza massacre: A story of thousands of lives and dreams’. The organization organized this two-day program to demand punishment of the guilty and respectable compensation for the victims. The program was inaugurated with a photo exhibition in front of Rana Plaza of Savar Bus Stand on Tuesday morning. The exhibition was inaugurated by Jasmin, a garment worker who was injured in the Rana Plaza tragedy.
Garments Trade Union Kendra Savar Branch Vice-President Ruhul Amin, Garment Workers Solidarity President Taslima Akhtar, General Secretary Babul Hossain, Injured Jasmine, Ankhi Akhter’s mother Nasima Akhter, Fazle Rabbi’s mother Rahela Akhter, Shahida’s mother Tahera were present in the meeting. Begum and others.
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