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

TNC Desk

Published: April 24, 2025, 04:27 PM

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

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

Twelve years have passed since the Rana Plaza building collapsed in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka, killing 1,136 garment workers and injuring over 2,000 more. Despite the passage of time and global attention, justice for the victims remains out of reach, with legal proceedings moving at a painfully slow pace.

Each year, as 24 April approaches, various organisations and families of the deceased hold events to remember the victims and renew their call for justice. But the trials related to the disaster have seen little progress.

Labour leaders attribute the delay to what they describe as the indifference of the state. They argue that despite the scale of the tragedy - the deadliest in the history of the country‍‍`s garment industry - there has been no urgency in concluding the trials.

Aminul Haque Amin, president of the National Garment Workers Federation, told The Business Standard, “This is one of the most horrific tragedies in the history of our garment sector, yet the trial remains unresolved due to the state’s indifference. The judiciary also bears responsibility. If the interim government wishes, these cases can still be expedited.”

He added, “Except for Sohel Rana, all other accused are currently out on bail. If the trial is delayed further, even a final verdict might be difficult to implement.”

Shiuli Khanom, a survivor from Savar who became disabled in the collapse, expressed her deep frustration. “My right side is paralysed. I’ve had treatment in India three times and need to go again in four months,” she said. She also suffered severe head and spinal injuries in the accident. Having lost her husband several years ago, she now struggles to support her three daughters while living in inhumane conditions.

Following investigations, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted a charge sheet in the murder case on 26 April 2015. It accused 41 individuals, including the building owner, factory owners, and government officials, of planned murder.

Charges were formally framed on 18 July 2016. Of the 594 witnesses listed, only 94 have testified so far. Two of the accused have died and have since been acquitted, leaving 39 defendants currently on trial.

Although Sohel Rana was granted bail by the High Court at the end of 2023, the Appellate Division overturned the decision on 15 January the following year. At the same time, the court instructed that the case be concluded within six months—a deadline that has since passed without resolution.

In a separate case regarding flawed construction and the use of substandard materials, 18 people were indicted on 16 June 2016. But after appeals from the accused, the High Court issued a stay order on 8 November 2021, which still hasn’t been lifted. As a result, the recording of witness statements remains suspended.

In the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) case related to corruption in the building’s construction, charges were framed against 10 individuals - including Sohel Rana - on 21 May 2017. So far, only 14 witness testimonies have been recorded.

Despite the gravity of the tragedy and the national outcry for justice, the judicial process remains entangled in delays and procedural hurdles - leaving victims and their families to suffer without closure.

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