The survivors and family members of the victims of the Rana Plaza collapse on Sunday observed the third anniversary of the tragedy in tears and protests, alongside different organisations, once again raising their demand for proper compensation and better workplaces. The demands were raised at separate discussions, rallies, human chains and a photo exhibition at the site of the tragedy in Savar; at Jurain graveyard where the unidentified bodies were buried and at protest rallies and human chains in front of the National Press Club. The European Union and the US ambassador to Bangladesh also gave separate statements on the day. Lawmaker Shirin Akhter, also Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (faction) general secretary, while speaking during the ongoing parliamentary session in the afternoon on a point of order, demanded April 24 be declared a national mourning day. The lawmaker also said that many victims were still missing and they should be traced, and demanded the formulation of a compensation act for ensuring workers’ safety. More than 1,100 RMG workers, mostly women, were killed and over 2,000 others were injured in the country’s deadliest garment collapse on April 24, 2013 in Savar.In Savar, survivors of the tragedy, relatives of the dead victims, labour rights bodies and politicians remembered the victims in tears, and urged the government to declare the day a national mourning day and a public holiday.Relatives and labour organisations placed wreaths in front of the Rana Plaza site in the morning.The workers and victims stood under the banner of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, Garment Workers’ Solidarity, Rana Plaza Accident Victims Rights Network, Sromik Nirapotta Forum, Bangladesh Textile Garments Workers Federation, Sromik Karmachari Oikya Parishad, Garment Workers Trade Union Centre, in front of Rana Plaza. They demanded proper compensation, capital punishment to the accused, including the building owner Sohel Rana, and a monument at Rana Plaza site. Locals and industrial police said several thousand workers of different garment factories at Rajashon, Shahibag, Talbag and the adjacent area in Savar demonstrated at their factories from morning and forced the authority to close the units for the day. As the local lawmaker Enamur Rahman reached Rana Plaza site, injured victims pushed him away and said Eman Medical College refuses to provide treatment to the injured victims now. At Jurain graveyard, relatives of the deceased workers also demanded compensation for the treatment of the injured workers and sought financial assistances for victims’ children for their education. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association leaders and different workers’ groups who visited Jurain graveyard also demanded exemplary punishment of the people involved in building the faulty building. National Garment Workers Federation, Industrial Bangladesh Council and Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation held separate protest rallies in front of the National Press Club demanding adequate compensation for the victim’s families. Marking the anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy, a joint statement of the European Commission acknowledged tangible progress on the ground and said it would remain closely engaged to bring lasting improvement to Bangladesh’s garment industry and helping to spur prosperity into Bangladesh through EU’s open market. In her statement, US ambassador Marcia Bernicat expressed her grief to the survivors and the victim’s family members.
