‘Rana Plaza land for the victims’

A government-commissioned investigation committee will recommend confiscation of the land the collapsed Sohel Rana was built on and provide financial support to the families of the dead and injured workers.

The panel will also propose the maximum penalty of life or fine or both for the building owner Mohammed Sohel Rana and the owners of five readymade garment factories housed in the nine-storey commercial building as per the Section 304 of the Bangladesh Penal Code.

Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Main Uddin Khandaker hoped Rana will get life term.

He told bdnews24.com on Sunday the committee will suggest same punishment for the local municipality Mayor, councilor, engineers and others directly or indirectly responsible for the deadly collapse.

The panel will make some short-and long-term recommendations on the readymade garment sector.

The committee will submit the findings to the Secretary to the ministry on Thursday.

Media reports say the Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has offered to build a new multi-storey shopping centre on the 56 decimal of land and allocate the shops among the families of the deceased.

Khandaker said avoid a recurrence, they would advise introduction of a directorate under the Ministry of Law that would deal only with the garment factories.

“Certificates will be given to all factories from the directorate through an expert committee. It will be mandatory to hang the certificate in every factory so that the workers can work without fear.”

The rescue operation to recover bodies from the rubble of the collapsed building in Savar came to an end on May 13.

According to official information, a total of 1,130 people were killed in the worst-ever buiding disaster in the world when the ill-built building xrumbled in a heap on April 24, trapping several thousands.

The ministry constituted a five-strong probe committee the same day with Khandaker at the helm.

Source: Bd news24