Calls for justice rang all across Bangladesh in remembrance of the Rana Plaza tragedy, the biggest industrial disaster that killed at least 1,138 people and injured over 2,500 others five years ago.
Thousands, including injured victims, families of those dead, pro-labour activists and common people, flocked at the collapse site at Savar, on the outskirts of capital Dhaka, on April 24, 2018, and brought out processions with demands for justice of those responsible for the deaths.
“For the last two years, the trial proceedings are hanging on the court,” Sultana Kamal, an eminent Rights Activist, told journalists after placing wreath at the Rana Plaza monument – a pair of hands holding the hammer and scythe, adding: “I think it is a ploy to allow those responsible to evade justice.”
Jolly Talukder, a Labour Leader and General Secretary of Garments Workers’ Trade Union Centre (GWTUC), who was also placed wreath at the base of the monument, echoed the same. “We want quick trial and justice for those responsible. Also, we demand proper compensation for the victims left with trauma for life.”
Apart from programmes at Savar, a prayer ceremony was also held at Jurain Graveyard, Dhaka, where some dead victims of Rana Plaza were buried. Floral wreaths were placed on behalf of families of the deceased, pro-labour organisations and common people.
Echoing similar demands, Razequzzaman Ratan, General Secretary of Socialist Workers’ Front, told reporters at Jurian that the authorities must keep a close watch and maintain tight security standards at all factories so that such incidents cannot repeat in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the body of apparel manufacturers, have also drawn out two programmes – a prayer at Jurain to seek eternal peace of the departed souls, and a Milad Mahfil, a religious congregation, in remembrance of the victims.
The garment manufacturers claim that Bangladesh has come a long way since Rana Plaza disaster. Much work has been done to transform the safety standards at the factories fundamentally. Now they boast of having global standard safety arrangements at the manufacturing units, exporters said.