Demonstrations staged in Bangladesh and elsewhere in world commemorating the second anniversary of Rana Plaza building collapse on Friday demanded the government and foreign retailers to compensate and rehabilitate the affected workers immediately. Labour leaders and affected workers and their families also urged the retailers to pay up the compensation they had promised for the Rana Plaza Donor Trust Fund. The victims and affected families expressed disappointment at the delayed investigation into the cases filed following the worst industrial disaster in the country’s history. They also called on the government to declare April 24 as a mourning day. According to Clean Clothes Campaign, the tragic day was remembered across the world, especially in Finland, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Australia, Spain, Italy, Pakistan and the United States. On April 24, 2013, the nine-storey Rana Plaza at Savar bus stop housing five apparel factories collapsed, leaving 1,137 people killed and several hundred injured and missing. Different local and international social, cultural and political organisations held rallies, formed human chains and brought out processions in front the site of the collapsed building at Savar and different places in Dhaka. Many demonstrators were seen parading with black flag. Addressing a rally at Savar, Gonoshasthaya Kendra found and trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury expressed disappointment at the delay investigations and trial of the cases. Garments Sramik Oikya Forum president Moshrefa Mishu urged the government for quick disposal of the cases against the building owners and factory owners. Krishak Samity leader Kazi Firoz, addressing another rally, raised question about the Tk 127 crore unused fund of the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Rana Plaza victims. He demanded transparent disbursement of the fund. Tearful and angry survivors of Rana Plaza disaster and families of the deceased and missing workers gathered around the site. Local administration, police officials and the labour leaders placed floral wreaths at the memorial installed following the collapse and another makeshift platform installed for the day. Parents of 20-year-old Phantom Tac’s ironman Fazle Rabbi were seen praying for their deceased son while many families of missing workers, including Runa Akhter’s mother Hosna Begum, were seen wailing in front of some human remains, they found at the site on Friday, and repeatedly calling for finding out their near and dear ones. Many victims were seen approaching to journalists or rights activists with many complaints including not getting dude compensation and proper treatment. Injured female worker Sabina Akhter alleged that the Rana Plaza Claims Administration in a later stated that she received a total Tk 94,486, but she received Tk 66,000. Another worker Fatema Akhter alleged that she was able to work as she was still suffering from pains in the head and waist. Many victim families visited Jurain Graveyard in the capital to offer prayer for their beloved ones. Puffed rice seller Liakat Ali Sheikh came from Gopalganj was looking for grave-56 where his daughter Rafiza, one of the victims, was buried unidentified. As no plaque reading grave-56 was found, he sat on the walkway by the side of the grave-156 and began wailing. Liakat left the graveyard offering a prayer for all the departed souls as he could not identify his daughter’s grave. Bangladesh Garment Shramik Sanghati arranged a photography and cartoon exhibition near the Rana Plaza site while Bangladesh Progressive Garments Workers Federation held a rally and put forth a set of demands including publishing a complete list of deceased, injured and missing workers. Workers were seen chanting ‘Mango [a western brand], Pay Up,’ ‘Wall-mart, Pay Up,’ ‘Benetton, Pay Up,’ and ‘Government, Pay Up’ in front of the site of the collapsed building. Some international labour rights activists were also seen there. ‘We are here to hear the Rana Plaza victims and investigate why they have not yet received the compensation they need,’ said International Labour Rights Forum executive director Judy Gearhart. ‘Many brands do not acknowledge their accountabilities…There are so much works to do,’ the campaigner told New Age while attending a protest rally at Savar. About the investigation and trial processes, she said, ‘It is tremendous injustice…there should be a charge of manslaughter.’ ‘For two years now…Victims mustn’t wait any longer to be adequately compensated,’ Karim Lahijdi, the president of the International Federation for Human Rights said in a statement. The Asian Legal Resource Centre and Odhikar recalled the incident with deep sorrow while National Garment Workers Federation, among others, held a human chain in front of National Press Club demanding immediate paying up of due compensation.
