The collapse of Savar’s high-rise building Rana Plaza symbolised a law and order and human rights debacle, François Zimeray, Ambassador-at-large for Human Rights for France, said on Tuesday.
“This is not only the collapse of a building but a serious decline of humanity, respect, ethics and the law,” he told the press at Alliance Francois in Dhanmondi.
The nine-storey building that housed five readymade garment factories crumbled on Apr 24, killing over 1,100 people, mainly workers, and maimed many who were rescued from the ruins.
The French diplomat advised the buyers of Bangladeshi garment products to be more informed to help prevent such disasters in future.
“Buyers in Western countries don’t have a clear knowledge on these matters. They will have to be better informed,” he said.
When asked if France will play a role to improve the workers’ conditions, Zimeray said there was no way his country could directly intervene. “But we can create awareness among the buyers in our country so that they can better value the rights of the workers.”
He said France would be ready to help improve the state of factory workers if Bangladesh sought its assistance.
Zimeray said he would meet buyers’ bodies to discuss the issue once back in France.
“We will hold discussions with the brands that import clothes from Bangladesh. The matter of compensating the victims will also be raised.”
Trial of war criminals
France was against any form of human rights violation, Zimeray said when asked about his country’s position concerning the ongoing trial of war criminals.
This form of crime is diabolic, he said.
“A special judiciary process has to be set up for this and it must be conducted within the boundaries of the law. We must not forget that justice does not mean revenge.”
He said France considered capital punishment a violation of human rights, although a large majority of Bangladeshis favoured the maximum penalty for war criminals.
“Judgments can’t always be correct,” Zimerey said. “Men create law and direct it. So we are against it, irrespective of the extent of the crime.”