The 13th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, the deadliest industrial disaster in the country’s history, was observed on Friday with renewed calls for justice and adequate compensation for victims.
Labour rights organisations marked the day with rallies and commemorations near a temporary monument at Savar Bus Stand, recalling the tragedy that killed more than 1,138 workers on April 24, 2013.
Survivors and relatives of the victims gathered to pay tribute, while leaders of different labour organisations placed wreaths at the memorial erected at the site of the collapsed building in the morning, marking the day.
Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati held a rally chaired by its president Taslima Akhter, who said many injured workers were yet to receive proper compensation.
Leaders demanded speedy disposal of cases filed over the collapse and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
National Garment Workers Federation also organised a rally at the venue, presided over by its president Amirul Haque Amin.
Leaders of Ganosamhati Andolan held a separate programme, where acting chief coordinator Dewan Abdur Rashid Nilu urged the government and factory owners to ensure workplace safety.
Garments Sramik Oikya Forum staged a brief rally, with its president Mushrefa Mishu demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible for the deaths.
Several other organisations, including the Garment Workers Trade Union Centre, Samajtantrik Sramik Front, Trade Union Federation and Garment Sramik Odhikar Andolan, also held rallies and processions in the area.
Activists of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation brought out a protest march demanding justice, full compensation and continued medical care for the injured.
Leaders and activists from a broad coalition of labour groups, including Garments Workers Rights Movement, Bangladesh Textile-Garments Workers Federation, National Liberation Council and National Workers Unity Centre, also paid tribute.
Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Centre, called on the authorities to comply with international standards, including conventions of the International Labour Organisation, in compensating victims and prosecuting those responsible.
Arbindu Byapari Bindu, president of the Revolutionary Garments Workers Federation, condemned the failure to ensure workers’ safety, alleged that successive governments had failed to ensure accountability.
‘We have not seen justice in 13 years. We expect the current government to meet our legitimate demands,’ he said.
Despite initial compensation efforts involving the government, international organisations and global brands, many survivors alleged inadequate support.
Afifa Khanom, a survivor who worked on the sixth floor of the building, recalled the day of the collapse, saying she lost consciousness after a huge thudding sound when a generator started.
She said that she sustained severe injuries to her spine, lungs and abdomen and had yet to receive adequate rehabilitation or justice.
‘Many have used us to raise funds, but we received very little,’ she alleged.
Other victims echoed similar concerns, alleging that funds collected through international campaigns were not properly distributed.
Labour organisations also placed wreaths at the graves of unidentified victims at Jurain graveyard in Dhaka.
On April 24, 2013, the eight-storey Rana Plaza building in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, collapsed, killing at least 1,138 people—mostly garment workers—and injuring more than 2,000.
