Rana Plaza victims still await justice after 12 yrs, says BLAST

Highlights

• 11 criminal cases still pending in Dhaka Second Labour Court
• Arrest warrants have been issued in four cases
• 3 cases are under trial in the Sessions Court 
• 1 case under the Building Construction Act stayed by HC
• The next hearing for Sessions Court cases on 19 May

Twelve years after the collapse of Rana Plaza, justice remains out of reach for the victims, according to the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), which is calling for accountability, fair compensation, and a lasting memorial.

In a statement issued ahead of the 24 April anniversary of the tragedy, BLAST says most of the legal cases tied to the 2013 disaster remain unresolved, and many survivors and families of the deceased are still waiting for adequate compensation.

The collapse of the eight-storey building in Savar killed 1,138 garment workers and injured at least 1,769 others – most of them women and young people. It remains one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history.

According to BLAST, 11 labour-related criminal cases are still pending in the Dhaka Second Labour Court. Of these, arrest warrants have been issued in four, four others are awaiting public notice publication, and the remaining three have not had their hearing dates or case listings updated.

In addition, three cases are under trial in the Sessions Court. One, filed under the Building Construction Act of 1952, has been stayed by a High Court order. The other two – filed under the Penal Code – are being jointly tried in the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court, where 93 witness testimonies have already been recorded. The next hearing is scheduled for 19 May.

The rights group also criticised the legally mandated compensation package – Tk2 lakh for the families of deceased workers and Tk2.5 lakh for the injured – as "inadequate and outdated."

It called for a revised structure that takes into account future earnings, medical expenses, psychological trauma, dependents' needs, and international standards.

Recommendations

The organisation presented a 10-point set of recommendations to address the long-standing issues stemming from the disaster. 

These include the swift disposal of pending legal cases; regular publication of trial updates; accountability for responsible parties; compensation in line with ILO Convention 121; long-term medical care and rehabilitation for survivors; and the installation of a memorial plaque at Jurain graveyard listing the names of the victims.

"More than a decade has passed, but no one has taken responsibility. There has been no justice, no compensation," the statement read. "We demand an end to the delays, proper rehabilitation for the victims, and a permanent reminder of this tragedy so that it is never forgotten."

BLAST concluded that the Rana Plaza collapse was more than a construction failure – it was the result of systemic negligence involving state authorities, factory owners, and industry regulators.