April 24, 2013. A regular morning at Rana Plaza, a nine-story building in Savar. But the day did not end as usual. Around 9 AM, the entire building collapsed within moments. Known now as the Rana Plaza Tragedy, the collapse claimed the lives of 1,143 people and left more than 2,500 injured. The rescue operation lasted 19 days. It remains one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history—and the deadliest garment factory disaster in the world.
This tragedy could have marked a turning point. It could have led to the abolition of systemic abuse against workers. It could have brought justice for the victims. It could have ushered in a new era of building safety in Bangladesh.
But that did not happen.
Twelve years later, the victims of Rana Plaza have not received justice. The building was constructed on a landfilled pond without proper permits. Witnesses reported cracks in the structure the day before the collapse, but higher officials refused to take action. The key accused, Sohel Rana, has yet to be convicted. Investigations drag on. Neither the murder trial nor the building safety trial has been concluded. Meanwhile, injured survivors—many permanently disabled—have not been properly compensated. Many can no longer work.
The greater tragedy is that incidents like Rana Plaza continue to occur. Building safety regulations are poorly enforced. Factory fires and unsafe working conditions remain common. Workers’ lives are still treated as disposable. Female workers, who make up the majority of the garment workforce, face even more dire conditions. The nation recently witnessed how government officials treated women workers demanding their rightful wages and Eid bonuses—with neglect and hostility.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives demands the immediate trial of Sohel Rana and all those responsible for the Rana Plaza collapse. We also call for strict enforcement of building safety regulations and an end to the systemic abuse of workers.
Let this tragedy not fade into silence. Let it instead become a call for justice, accountability, and lasting change for the working people of this country.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 