Probe opens into Savar collapse

The government has launched investigations into the collapse of the eight-storey commercial building in Savar that claimed over 100 lives and injured over 600.

The Ministry of Labour and Empowerment has asked a five-member committee to submit findings within seven working days, the ministry's Public Relations Officer SM Arifuzzaman told bdnews24.com.

Headed by Labour Director Abu Syed Md Khurshid, the committee has a Deputy Secretary-level official, Chief Inspector of Factories and Establishment, a labour representative and another representative of the Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Arifuzzaman said that the panel will find out those responsible for the collapse, reasons behind the incident and determine the actual number of deceased.

Rescuers have so far retrieved 101 bodies and feared scores of people were trapped inside the rubble as the high-rise housing four garment factories collapsed on the outskirts of the capital at around 8:30am on Wednesday.

Most of the dead appeared to be female workers.

Rescue workers, led by the Army, were continuing their operation for who trapped under heaps of concrete.

Workers at Rana Plaza on Tuesday saw the cracks in the huge structure but the authorities allegedly did not take any precautions.

Building owner Mohammad Sohel Rana told reporters that day that there was ‘nothing serious’ in the cracks.

Rana, a Senior Joint Convenor of Awami League’s youth front Juba League’s Savar municipality unit, has been on the run after the collapse.

Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir visited the site and told reporters that the building was not approved by the authorities.