The second anniversary of Rana Plaza building collapse will be observed tomorrow, but the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is yet to submit charge sheets in three cases pertaining to one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. At least 1,135 garment workers were killed and over 2,000 wounded in the Rana Plaza disaster on April 24, 2013. Since then the court fixed dozens of dates for submission of the probe report, but the CID failed to do so. However, investigation officer (IO) Bijoy Krishna Kar, also a senior assistant superintendent of CID, told daily sun on Wednesday, “We hope to submit the charge sheets before the court on the next fixed date of May 21”. When asked about delay, he said, “We could not submit the reports before court on April 15 due to lack of clearance orders about some accused government officials.” Because of delay in investigation, the affected workers and leaders of labour rights organisations expressed doubt whether the workers would at all get justice or not. Expressing her frustration, Jolly Talukder, joint secretary general of Garments Sramik Trade Union Kendra, told daily sun, “In face of our movement, the government arrested Sohel Rana, but it seems the government is not sincere to ensure punishment to those responsible for the tragic incidence.” On April 15, Dhaka Judicial Magistrate Court fixed May 21 for submitting the probe report following failure of CID to submit the report on the scheduled date. The CID finalised two separate charge sheets against 59 people. One of the charge sheets was finalised against 42 people, including 13 government officials, in the case filed under penal code. Another charge sheet was finalised against 17 people, including seven government officials, in another case filed under building construction act. As per section 197 of the CrPC, the IO sent letters to relevant ministries seeking clearance about the 20 officials regarding their inclusion in the charge sheets. Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana, owners of the garment factories, housed in the building, some officials and engineers of Savar municipality and the department of inspection of factories and establishment were found to be responsible for the collapse and loss of lives, sources said. Rana and the garment factory owners compelled the staff members and factory workers to work inside the building even after cracks were found there. So, the owners are responsible for the deaths and they will be made accused in the charge sheets, they said. Twenty-two people, including Rana, were arrested in connection with the cases and 14 of them, including Rana’s father Abdul Khalek, were released on bail. Rajuk official Helaluddin filed a case against Sohel Rana for structural flaw at the plaza and for constructing it with sub-standard materials and violating building code. Another case was filed by police with Savar police station against Rana, his father Khalek and owners of the factories for loss of lives. The family of a victim filed a murder case with a Dhaka court in this connection.
Source: https://www.daily-sun.com/print/back-page/2015/04/23/499505
