Sohel Rana has been accused along with 17 others of ‘unbridled irregularities’ during the construction of Rana Plaza.
The ACC Deputy Director and the case’s investigator Mofidul Islam pressed charges at a Dhaka court on Wednesday.
It says Rana committed ‘all forms of irregularities and corruption’ to construct the building in violation of the design plan.
At least 1,130 people died when Rana Plaza that housed five garment factories and more collapsed in a heap on April 24 last year.
The worst factory disaster in Bangladesh happened a day after cracks appeared on its structure.
The ACC filed a case over violation of building codes on Jun 12 but faced fire for accusing 17 including Rana’s father and late mother, but not him.
The chargesheet accusing Sohel Rana was later approved in a regular ACC meeting on Tuesday.
“We have found that no rules were met during Rana Plaza’s construction. The building also violated the design plan,” the case’s supervisor and ACC Director Tahidul Islam told bdnews24.com.
“The building was in Rana’s parents’ name but he was responsible for the persuasion, financial irregularities and corruption it took to make it.”
Rana was the one in communication with the owners of the garments located in the building, he said.
He had tried to escape to India after his building collapsed to kill thousands but was arrested by RAB from Jessore’s Benapole on April 28 last year.
ACC’s chargesheet cites 18 as witnesses. The accused includes Rana’s father Abdul Khalek, mother Morjina Begum and Refat Ullah who was mayor of Savar municipality at the time of the collapse.
The others are – Khulna University associate professor and architect ATM Masud Reza, engineer Sajjad Hossain. Rana Plaza tenants – Phantom Apparels Chairman Aminul Islam, New Wave Bottoms Managing Director Bazlul Samad and Ether Tex Managing Director Anisur Rahman.
ACC’s list of accused continues with former executive officer of Savar municipality Uttam Kumar Roy, executive engineer Rafiqul Islam, former assistant engineer Mahbubur Rahman, former assistant engineer Rakibul Hasan Russel, Savar municipality town planner Farzana Islam, license inspector Abdul Motalib, former secretary of Savar municipality Morzina Khan and former secretary Abul Bashar.
Source: Bd news24