Rana Plaza owner finally prosecuted

The ACC has finally prosecuted Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana in the case filed over irregularities in the construction of the building that collapsed last year, killing thousands.

Spokesperson Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya said on Tuesday the national antigraft agency approved the charge-sheet against 18, including Rana, in the case.

The ACC on Jun 12 sued 17 people, excluding Rana, for construction of the building beyond the approved design.

However, his father Abul Khaleque and late mother Morzina Begum were accused in the case.

Pranab Kumar, a deputy director, told bdnews24.com Rana’s name had been included in the charge-sheet as "evidence of crimes" was found against him in latter investigations.

Rana Plaza in Savar collapsed on Apr 24 last year, leaving dead over 1,100 people, mostly workers of the five readymade garment factories housed in the building.

Bhattacharya said last month the commission had dropped Rana’s name from the case as it had not found the name in any document of the building.

However, he was made accused in the cases filed by police following the building collapse.

The spokesperson had said the ACC investigation was about whether there was any irregularity in the building construction. No document establishing Rana’s link to this building had been found.

The ACC decision to spare Rana drew flak.

Bhattacharya told bdnews24.com on Tuesday: “The investigation found that Rana was involved in the construction of Rana Plaza beyond design. That’s why he has been included (in the charge-sheet).

Those charged include Rana’s father Khaleque and mother Begum, Savar municipality's former mayor Refat Ullah, Khulna University Assistant Professor architect ATM Masud Reza, engineer Sajjad Hossain and tenants of the building Aminul Islam (Phantom Apparels chairman), Bazlul Samad (New Web Bottoms managing director), and Anisur Rahman (Ether Tex managing director).

Also accused are Savar municipality former secretaries Morjina Khan and Abul Bashar, Executive Officer Uttam Kumar Roy, Assistant Engineer Mahbubur Rahman and Sub-assistant Engineer Raqibul Hasan Russell, and incumbent Executive Engineer Rafiqul Islam, Town Planner Farzana Islam and Licence Inspector Abdul Mottalib.

The ACC initiated probe into Rana’s assets four days after the building crash.

According to the investigation, Rana used to maintain 23 accounts in different banks.

He owns a five-storey building at Savar, a two-storey house at Singair in Manikganj and two brick kilns.

Rana was arrested on April 28 last year at Benapole in Jessore.