Demanding the highest punishment for Sohel Rana, the owner of the collapsed Rana Plaza, eminent citizens and garment industry leaders said on Friday that vile politics and a pervasive
culture of impunity were responsible for the disaster.
They also opined that such calamities in the readymade garment (RMG) sector would continue until persons responsible are brought to justice. They demanded proper compensation for the affected families in the Savar tragedy. The observations were made at a seminar, “Savar Tragedy: Law, Capital Punishment and Compensation,” organised by the Garments Sramik Sangram Parishad at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, Prof. Anu Muhammad, Prof. Asif Nazrul, Sujan general secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna spoke on the
occasion.
Dr Kamal said: “The Savar tragedy has shocked the nation. There’s no undoing the loss caused by the factory owners’ negligence. We have laws to bring those responsible to book, but there is an absence of effective implementation of our existing laws. We have to gather strength to fight against them.” About the country’s
democracy, he said: “The system we have is not democracy because election results can be bought with money. We fought against Hawa Bhaban, but something is at work to bring them back again. It is nothing but sick
politics.”
Anu Muhammad said owners of Rana Plaza and garment factories, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturer and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) and the government were responsible for the Savar tragedy. “The BGMEA protects garment factory owners, not workers, while the government does not inspect what is going on in the factories. The labour ministry too has to take responsibility for tragedies in garment factories,” he alleged.
“The country’s politics is now in the grip of evil businessmen. At least three dozen lawmakers are directly involved in the RMG business. As a result, the interest of workers is not protected. The lawmakers are encouraging thousands of Sohel Ranas. New law should be made keeping the provision of capital punishment. Compensation should be given to the victims’ families of the Savar tragedy,” Badiul Alam Majumder said.
Asif Nazrul said: “An example should be set by hanging Rana. But I know it will not happen. Factory owners are not punished. If they are not cast out of society, such tragedies will continue. There should be a speedy trial to complete the cases. I can bet that Rana will come out clean within a few days. People who have created Rana are not in the ruling Awami League alone. Such culprits are there in the BNP and the Jamaat too. They should be brought to justice.”
“It’s dirty politics that caused the Savar tragedy. Even after 42 years of independence, we don’t know whether such politics will ever end,” said Mahmudur Rahman Manna. He urged labour leaders to be united to realise their due demands.
-With The Independent input
