Justice eludes Rana Plaza victims as trials drag on even after 12 years

Highlights

• 1,136 RMG workers killed in Rana Plaza collapse in 2013
• Of 39 accused in murder case, only Rana Plaza owner in prison
• Two cases stalled at witness testimony stage
• Proceedings of third case suspended on HC order
• State's indifference blamed for prolonged judicial process
  

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Twelve years have passed since the collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar on the outskirts of the capital, which claimed the lives of 1,136 garment workers and injured over 2,000 others, yet justice remains elusive.

Despite widespread national and international attention, the legal proceedings surrounding the tragedy on 24 April 2013 continue at a sluggish pace.

Every year, as this day arrives, various events commemorate the workers killed in that incident. Different labour organisations and relatives of the deceased workers demand justice. However, there is no headway in the completion of the judicial process.

Labour leaders say the case has not been resolved in over a decade due to the state's indifference. 

The eight-storey Rana Plaza building collapse also left 1,169 workers severely injured. Approximately 2,500 workers were rescued alive.

'Indifference of the state'

Aminul Haque Amin, president of the National Garment Workers Federation, told TBS, "The trial for one of the most horrific tragedies in the history of the country's garment industry has not yet concluded due to the indifference of the state. The judiciary also has a responsibility in this matter. If the interim government wishes, it is still possible to expedite the trials of these related cases." 

He further said, "All the accused except Sohel Rana are currently on bail. If the judicial process is further prolonged, even if a verdict is reached against them, it will be difficult to enforce."

Expressing her frustration at the lack of justice even after a decade since the Rana Plaza collapse, Shiuli Khanom, a resident of Savar in her forties who was disabled in the accident, said, "My right side has been paralysed in the accident. My heart races. I have received treatment in India three times and will have to go again in four months." 

She added that she suffered a broken spine and head injuries in the accident. Her husband passed away about seven or eight years ago, and she is now living an inhumane life with her three daughters.

Case proceedings

Following the investigation into the murder case, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police submitted a charge sheet to the court on 26 April 2015, accusing 41 individuals at various levels, including the building owner, garment factory owners, and government officials, of planned murder. 

Charges were framed against the accused on 18 July 2016. Out of the 594 witnesses, the testimonies of 94 have been completed so far. Two of the accused named in the charge sheet have since passed away and have been acquitted of the case. Consequently, the current number of defendants is 39.

The High Court granted bail to Sohel Rana towards the end of 2023. However, the Appellate Division later overturned that bail order on 15 January of last year, and simultaneously instructed that the case be resolved within six months. Despite over a year having passed since that instruction, the trial of the case continues at a slow pace.

In the case filed alleging defects in building construction and the use of substandard materials, the court indicted 18 people, including the building owner, on 16 June 2016. Following appeals by the accused against an indictment order, the High Court issued a stay order on the case proceedings on 8 November 2021. As this stay order has not yet been lifted, the recording of witness testimonies remains suspended.

In the ACC case filed on charges of corruption in the construction of Rana Plaza, charges were framed against 10 accused, including Sohel Rana, on 21 May 2017. To date, the testimonies of only 14 witnesses have been completed in the case.