Today marks the 13th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, the deadliest industrial disaster in Bangladesh's history.
On April 24, 2013, the multi-story complex in Savar crumbled killing 1,136 garment workers and injuring over 2,000. Despite more than a decade passing and victims' families continue to wait for a final verdict.
Legal Gridlock: Five Cases Still Pending
Following the tragedy, six cases were filed involving murder, construction violations, corruption, and weapons charges. To date only one case related to the concealment of wealth has reached a verdict. In 2017, building owner Sohel Rana was sentenced to three years in prison in that specific case.
However, the more significant charges remain unresolved:
The Murder Case: Originally filed as "death due to negligence" it was later escalated to murder. Of the 594 listed witnesses, only 145 have testified. The trial was frozen for six years due to High Court stay orders and only resumed recently.
Building Construction Case: Filed by RAJUK for violating building codes, this case has seen little progress with the next hearing set for September 30.
Corruption Case: Investigated by the ACC regarding the illegal addition of floors. Only nine of the 20 witnesses have testified.
Arms and Special Powers Acts: Two separate cases remain in the testimony phase at the Dhaka Additional District and Sessions Judge Court.
A Pattern of Delays
State lawyers admit that a lack of political will in previous years and strategic legal petitions by the defense have slowed the process. Although the Appellate Division ordered the disposal of the murder case within six months in early 2024, that deadline has passed without a conclusion.
Sohel Rana remains the only accused currently in jail. Of the 41 original defendants, three have died 25 are out on bail and 12 remain fugitives.
Demands for Accountability
On Wednesday morning, survivors, families of the deceased, and labor leaders gathered at the Rana Plaza site to lay wreaths and hold human chains.
Their demands remain unchanged: a speedy trial, maximum punishment for the guilty, adequate compensation for survivors and a permanent guarantee of workplace safety.
The next hearing for the murder and arms cases is scheduled for April 30, 2026.
