11 Years After Rana Plaza Collapse, Victims Still Await Justice

The Rana Plaza building in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed, killing over 1,100 garment workers and injuring more than 2,500 others. The eight-story building housed five garment factories that manufactured clothes for major international brands. The collapse was one of the deadliest industrial accidents in modern history.

Eleven years later, the victims and their families are still waiting for justice. Despite multiple cases being filed against the perpetrators, including the building owner Sohel Rana and factory owners, there has been no significant progress even after a decade. Authorities have been accused of dragging their feet on delivering justice, allowing the perpetrators to evade punishment through bureaucratic hurdles and legal loopholes.

Why this matters: The Rana Plaza collapse highlighted the deadly consequences of prioritizing profit over worker safety in the global garment industry. The lack of accountability and justice for the victims underscores the urgent need for systemic change to ensure the safety and well-being of workers who produce the clothes we consume.

According to the Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST), all 14 cases related to the Rana Plaza collapse are stuck in limbo, with the trial of two murder cases and a case over building code violations yet to reach a verdict. No arrests have been made in the 11 cases filed by the Department of Inspections of Factories and Establishments against the owners of the RMG factories.

The victims' families and survivors continue to suffer, with many not receiving proper compensation or means for rehabilitation and employment. "I had to undergo 11 surgeries and still can't walk properly," said Nilufa Begum, a survivor of the collapse. "I didn't get any support from the government or the factory owners."

Trade unionists claim that while some progress has been made in textile factories since the tragedy, workers' lives have not significantly improved. They accuse the government and big brands of preventing protests and hindering the achievement of justice for the Rana Plaza victims.

The Rana Plaza collapse served as a wake-up call for the global fashion industry, leading to increased scrutiny and efforts to improve worker safety and labor rights in Bangladesh's garment sector. However, activists argue that more needs to be done to hold international companies and governments accountable for labor rights abuses in their supply chains.

As Bangladesh marks 11 years since the Rana Plaza disaster, the victims' families and survivors continue to demand justice and compensation. The government's failure to prioritize these cases and bring the responsible parties to justice is seen as a great disservice to the victims and a burden on the nation's collective conscience, as the garment industry's growth is built on the backs of these workers.

Key Takeaways

• Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013 killed over 1,100 garment workers in Bangladesh.
• 11 years later, victims' families await justice as cases against perpetrators remain stalled.
• Lack of accountability highlights urgent need for systemic change in garment industry.
• Victims continue to suffer, with many not receiving proper compensation or rehabilitation.
• Garment industry's growth is built on the backs of workers, yet justice remains elusive.