‘It’s highest warning to prepare for facing disaster’
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said the trial of those responsible for the Savar disaster would have to be completed quickly, if necessary through the Speedy Trial Tribunal.
“It’s another type of crimes against humanity. The responsible persons will have to be tried as soon as possible. If necessary, they’ll have to be tried under speedy trial tribunal,” he told reporters while visiting the site of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar.
Obaidul Quader said the government is determined to ensure exemplary punishment to those responsible for the disaster. “The key person behind the disaster has already been arrested. We won’t see which party he belongs to. We’ll treat him as a criminal.”
Four days after the Savar tragedy, members of elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Sohel Rana from Benapole in Jessore on Sunday, foiling his bid to flee to India.
On Monday, Detective Branch (DB) of Police arrested Rana’s father, Abdul Khaleq, from city’s Moghbazar area in connection with two cases filed over the Rana Plaza collapse. Earlier, Rana’s wife and four of his relatives were detained for interrogation.
Obaidul Quader said it is the highest level of warning message for the country with regard to preparedness in case of disaster. “We’ll have to take lesson from this.”
He also said it is also an extraordinary example that some 2445 people were recovered alive from the collapsed building.
The Communications Minister thanked the opposition for withdrawing hartal on April 24 and appealed to them to withdraw their hartal called for May 2. “We request the opposition to withdraw the hartal for the sake of country and humanity.”
He also requested the withdrawal of the Hefajat-e-Islam programme set for May 5 for the sake of humanity.
Two more bodies were recovered from the wreckage of the eight-storey Rana Plaza building in Savar on Tuesday morning in the second phase of rescue operation, raising the death toll to 391.
Nearly 111 hours after the Rana Plaza collapse, the second phase of rescue operation using heavy equipment started at 12:10 am on Monday.
Source: UNB Connect
