Report - Tragic Collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar

Tragic Collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar

Hasan Mahmud, Dhaka, 25 April: On 24 April 2013, Rana Plaza, an eight storied commercial building collapsed in Savar near Dhaka. The building collapsed at 9 am leaving only the ground floor intact. Rescue and search operations were started immediately after the building crumpled. More than 1,000 bodies have already been recovered and 250 persons have been rescued alive. More death tolls are feared.

The building Rana Plaza is owned by Sohel Rana, a member of a leading political party. It housed five separate garment factories where more than 5,000 employees used to work. There were several shops and a bank on the ground floor. The garment factories manufactured apparel for export to western brands like Primark, Wal-Mart, the Children's Palace, etc.

One eye witness said that inspectors had discovered cracks in the building the day before and had requested the authority for evacuation and closure of the factories. The shops and the bank on the lower floors immediately closed but garment workers were forced to return to work as the supervisors declared the building to be safe.

The Dhaka City Development Authority has filed a case against the owners of the building and the five garment factories operating inside it with Savar Police Station. It is considered to be the deadliest garment factory accident in history. It is also thought as the deadliest accidental structural failure in modern human history.