The Rana Plaza collapse, the deadliest industrial disaster in Bangladesh’s history, marks its 13th anniversary today. On April 24, 2013, the collapse of the multi-story building in Savar killed 1,136 garment workers and injured several thousand. Despite more than a decade passing, justice in the case remains uncertain.On the morning of that day, the building suddenly collapsed while thousands of workers were inside, turning it into a pile of rubble within moments. Rescue operations continued for several days. The incident sparked global outrage and raised serious concerns about workplace safety in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector.Two years after the tragedy, in 2015, the Criminal Investigation Department filed a charge sheet against 41 individuals, including the building owner Sohel Rana. The trial formally began in 2016 at a district court in Dhaka.However, the proceedings have been repeatedly delayed due to legal complications, including multiple petitions filed by the accused and requests to stay the trial in higher courts. Although the trial resumed in 2022, progress has been slow.Out of 594 listed witnesses, only 145 have testified so far. Despite repeated court orders, law enforcement has struggled to ensure the presence of key witnesses.In January 2024, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh directed that the case be resolved within six months. However, little progress has been observed in implementing that order.The defense lawyer of the main accused, Sohel Rana, has claimed that his client has been wrongfully detained and is innocent.
