CPB decries delay in Rana Plaza tragedy trial
Dhaka: The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) on Sunday said it can in no way be acceptable that the trial of those responsible for the Rana Plaza tragedy have not been tried over the last four years.
In a statement, CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim and General Secretary Syed Abu Jafar Ahmed also voiced frustration over the government's failure to complete trial of the worst-ever tragedy in the country's multi-billion dollar ready-made garment (RMG) industry.
The statement was issued paying tributes in memory of those workers killed in the incident, marking its 4th anniversary.
The CPB leaders said, "Though RMG workers are getting killed in factory fire or building collapse incidents one after another, the government is not taking any action against those responsible for those. The offenders are being spared."
"The criminals have not yet got exemplary punishment. Even, the RMG factory owners have been released by this time. It's in no way acceptable," they observed.
The left party leaders also said it seems that the government has no responsibility for protecting the injured RMG workers. "Many workers are fighting for survival without treatment and food assistance after getting maimed in the incident. There's no step in sight to rehabilitate the workers who got crippled in the incident."
Mentioning that the government and the RMG owners will not be allowed to play a game over the lives of workers, the CPB leaders urged the workers to get united and wage a strong movement to realise their demands and ensure their rights.
On April 24 in 2013, Rana Plaza, an illegally constructed building at Savar which had housed five garment factories, came down crashing, killing 1,138 people and injuring over 2,000 others.
Different right bodies, workers organisations and left political parties have chalked out various programmes, including discussion, rally and human chain, to mark the day recalling the tragedy.
Relatives and workers of the deceased will place wreaths in front of the Rana Plaza site in the morning remembering the victims. They will also place wraths at the graves of unidentified victims who were buried at Jurain Graveyard in the capital.