Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina on Thursday unequivocally said those who are responsible for the Rana Plaza collapse in Savar would be given exemplary punishment as such games with the life of the people cannot be tolerated in anyway. “Those who are responsible for the tragic incident must be punished. None would be spared. Whoever might be the culprits and if even they belong our party they won’t go scot-free,” she said. She denied the media reports which mentioned that the owner of the building is a Jubo League leader. “I have collected the list of the office-bearers of the Savar Jubo League. But his name was not included in the list,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while making a statement in the House on the Rana Plaza collapse. Terming the incidents as unfortunate and painful, the Leader of the House said the workers come to the towns to change their fate. “But they return their home in dead bodies. Such repeated incidents could not be acceptable in anyway,” she said in an emotion-choked voice.
She said that so far some 1,800 people have been recovered alive from the debris of that building along with dead bodies of some 210 people. The building houses five garment factories, a bank and number of shops, she said. The Prime Minister said that soon after the incident, teams of Army, police, BGB, RAB, Industrial Police, Fire Service and Civil Defense had launched the rescue operation within just 20 minutes of the incident and it’s a rare example also in global context. Besides, she said, ministers, parliament members, local ruling party leaders and student leaders of nearby Jahangirnagar University also rushed to the scene to assist the drive.
Sheikh Hasina said that after the cracks developed in that building it was not in a condition for use and after that, policemen were deployed in the building. “But the workers were forced by the owners of the garment factories to join the work on Wednesday and suddenly the building collapsed,” she said.
She thanked the BNP-led 18-party alliance for the withdrawal of the countrywide hartal after the building caved in Savar on Wednesday as she said the decision made
the rescue operation smoother.
The Prime Minister said that the rescuers are conducting their operation round- the-clock and providing food, light and oxygen to those who are still alive under the debris of that building.
She urged all to extend cooperation in the rescue operation in Rana Plaza that collapsed on Wednesday morning as the PM said the government’s top priority is to save the trapped people.
Sheikh Hasina said rescue operation in such kind of incident is time-consuming and all should be aware of this because any hurry could lead to loss of more lives including those who are still alive.
She also called upon the people to keep patience and not to indulge in destructive activities whimsically. “We do politics for the welfare of the poor people and we always give priority to the interest of the workers,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken necessary steps for the treatment of the injured. We would do everything possible for those who were injured and whose family were affected due to the building collapse.
Sheikh Hasina thanked all concerned who are taking part in the rescue operation. She prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the countrymen to pray after Juma prayers tomorrow in all mosques for the victims of the tragic incident of building collapse in Savar on Wednesday.
PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the Prime Minister requested the countrymen to offer the special prayers in all mosques tomorrow after Juma prayers.
-With The Independent input
