Rana Plaza, an eight-storey commercial building, collapsed in Savar around 9:30 AM on 24th April 2013. Thousands of people were a victim of this man-made disaster including garment factory workers, women and children. At least 100 are found dead and several others still remain trapped underneath the debris. Death toll is expected to rise in the coming days.
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| Image Courtesy: CBSNews.com: 8-storey building in Savar collapses. |
It is a matter of grave concern how garment factory workers are being treated in the country. They work endlessly everyday and even their survival in a factory isn't guaranteed. They work in very poor conditions, the buildings have barred windows so workers can't escape and they are heavily underpaid. There is no point in blaming foreign companies for the lack of their security concerns for the workers, when the actual problem lies among us. Companies like Primark, Monsoon, Benetton Group were associated with the factories that now lies in ruins. These companies are running a business and their first priority is obviously money. They will choose the cheapest alternative offering the better quality. Because Bangladesh offers cheap labour, they will invest their money on our factory workers. They have a demand they have to meet and for that they will demand more labour from our country. It's pure business.
The building in Savar didn't collapse because the above mentioned companies invested here but because the management of the building was corrupt. The owner, Md. Sohel Rana, Jubo League's Senior Joint Convenor is answerable for this disaster. It is being reported that the upper 4 floors of the building were built without a permit. If an area can withstand only a certain amount of pressure, why overexert it with more? Moreover people had complained about having seen cracks in the building on the Tuesday before the disaster occurred. Mr. Rana completely ignored the complaints and remarked that 'there;s nothing to worry.' Well, he'll have a lot to worry about now! He's answerable to the thousands of people suffering because of his utter negligence.
The "powerful" people may not have started doing anything significant about this incident but the local rescuers are in full swing. The rescue operation had started almost immediately after the disaster occurred. Our citizens are working united all over Bangladesh by sending donations, rescue teams, food and medicine. Enam Medical College were among the first to take the initiative and many other institutions followed in their footsteps. After all, in times of hardships and peril, it is the common man who understands what the other common man is going through.
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| Image Courtesy: CBS.com via AP: People rescuing surviros with long swathes of cloth |
