Plaza collapse: Govt assures legal action

Home Minister MK Alamgir assured legal action against those responsible for the tragic collapse of multi-storied Rana Plaza at Savar near capital Dhaka in which at least 80 people were killed on Wednesday.

“Building codes were not followed and proper construction materials were not used in the construction of the building,” he said after visiting the spot on Wednesday.

“We will probe the matter and bring the perpetrators to book,” Alamgir added.

Expressing grief on behalf of the Prime Minister and the government, the Home Minister said that all necessary steps would be taken for the treatment, relief and rehabilitation of the victims.

Cracks on the building reportedly surfaced on Tuesday and subsequently it collapsed on Wednesday morning.

Savar Model police OC Asaduzzaman said four garment factories and a bank branch located in the complex were closed on Tuesday after the cracks were noticed. However, some workers returned to factories on Wednesday before the collapse.

Engineer Abdur Razzak on Tuesday said the building needed to be examined by structural experts from BUET for safety. He had also forewarned a possible collapse.

The building’s owner, who is also the joint convenor of the Juba League, youth wing of the Awami League, Md Sohel Rana had told bdnews24.com on the day that the cracks were nothing serious.

Asked whether the building’s owner would be detained, Alamgir said, “We’ll take steps after probe.”

He alleged the rescue operations were being hampered due to the opposition alliance’s general strike.
The opposition alliance, however, had called off the strike in Dhaka to facilitate rescue works.