Rana Plaza collapse: Can disaster aid worth billions be traced?

“The probe committee was formed; we’ve submitted the report,” says labour ministry additional secretary

Twelve years have passed since the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Savar shocked Bangladesh and the world. On that tragic day—Apr 24, 2013—more than 1,100 lives were lost, and thousands more were injured or disabled.

Among the survivors is Shila Begum, a former garment worker at Ethertex Ltd, located on the sixth floor of the eight-storey building. Shila was trapped under the debris for 18 excruciating hours before being rescued. She lost her right arm, suffered severe injuries to her spine and abdomen, and now struggles to walk with the support of a medical brace.

“You media people and officials come every April 24. But every Eid comes and goes, and no one asks how we’re surviving,” Shila said, her voice heavy with emotion.

Widowed in 2002 and now a mother, she relies entirely on handouts. “If this new government gives us some compensation, at least I could afford rice and lentils,” she added.

Shila is just one of many survivors who continue to suffer—physically, emotionally, and financially. Like her, others blame the authorities and the previous government for abandoning them after promising support.

Alongside labour leaders, the injured complain that the “relief fund” pooled by the then prime minister was not put to good use. They hope that the interim government would be “merciful” towards them, though regrets remain about no moves yet been taken.

On the fateful day of Apr 24, 2013, the collapse of the eight-storey building in Savar caught almost 5,000 people from several garment factories housed in it in the heap of bricks, machines and factory bolts. Following days of rescue work, bodies piled up to a staggering toll of 1,136 while 2,438 people were pulled out from the rubble alive, nearly 2,000 of them wounded or rendered disabled.

FUNDS WORTH BILLIONS ‘COVERED UP’

Soon after the disaster, the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina launched a relief and welfare fund to support the victims. According to a 2013 statement by the erstwhile agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury in parliament, the fund had received Tk 1.27 billion from various institutions and individuals.

Yet, by April 2014, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) reported that only Tk 221.35 million had been disbursed. No mention was made of the remaining amount or the total size of the fund at the time.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) later echoed concerns about the lack of transparency. In a 2015 report titled "Steps Taken to Establish Governance in the Ready-Made Garment Sector", TIB said Tk 1.08 billion remained unused in the fund. Their findings were based on information gathered from government departments, labour organisations, media reports, and court documents.

However, the PMO dismissed the report as “confusing” and claimed there was “no separate fund” for Rana Plaza victims. It did not disclose how much aid was actually distributed, nor did it clarify the status of the Tk 1.27 billion previously acknowledged by the government.

WHERE DID THE MONEY GO?

Over the years, questions have mounted about the use—or misuse—of the fund. According to multiple labour leaders and organisations, most of the money collected never reached the victims.

“People from across the country donated Tk 1.27 billion. Only Tk 220 million was spent. We’ve asked repeatedly for an account of the rest, but there’s been no answer,” said Joly Talukder, General Secretary of the Garments Workers Trade Union Center.

Manjur Moin, assistant general secretary of the same organisation, added: “It wasn’t just institutions; individuals gave from their hearts. Yet the victims saw very little of it. We were later told the relief fund is a general-purpose account for disasters.”

Kalpona Akhter, executive director of the Center for Workers Solidarity, echoed similar frustration. “Only a small portion went to the injured and bereaved families. We were told the fund could be used for any disaster—but what could be more catastrophic than Rana Plaza?”

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman has criticised the then government for its failure to transparently disburse the funds donated to the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund following the Rana Plaza tragedy.

He told bdnews24.com, “The money was deposited in that fund in the public interest, especially in response to a nationally and internationally discussed tragedy.

“People had expected it to be spent for the purpose it was donated for.”

“It was supposed to be distributed transparently,” he added.

“The then government not only failed to do so, but also neglected its responsibilities and disregarded the mandate entrusted to them. Those who deserved compensation did not receive it.”

Accusing the then administration of withholding information about the use of the funds, the TIB chief said: “There was a public expectation and a collective demand from us all to disclose what happened to the fund. It’s frustrating.

“Yet, not entirely surprising, considering the behaviour of the government in power at the time.”

As there has been no progress in this regard even after so many years, he urged the current interim administration to launch an inquiry. “Under the changed circumstances, the interim government should investigate the matter.

“If there has been any misappropriation, irregularities, or if the funds were used for purposes other than for which they were originally raised, those involved must be held accountable.”

Attempts to reach multiple officials from the Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) for comment went unanswered.

MINISTRY FORMS PROBE COMMITTEE

After the interim government took office, then Labour and Employment Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain met victims of the Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions disasters at the Secretariat on Aug 20.

At the meeting, he said the government would “look into” how much support had been given to those killed or injured in the two incidents.

He said: “We will investigate how effectively the measures taken for the victims and their families during the previous Awami League administration were implemented and how much benefit they have actually received or not.

“A committee will be formed to examine the issue, and its report will present the real picture.”

M Sakhawat Hussain, current advisor to the ministry, could not be reached.

When contacted, Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesperson Abdul Malek said: “I am not aware of this. I assumed my role afterwards. You may consult with the Labour Wing for details.”

Confirming the formation of the probe committee, Director General of the Department of Labour Md Jahangir Hossain suggested contacting Md Humayun Kabir, additional secretary of the ministry’s International Organisations Wing.

Later, Md Humayun Kabir told bdnews24.com, “The investigation committee had been formed. We have already submitted the report to the ministry.”

He, however, could not immediately specify when it was submitted or what recommendations were made in the report.

Iftekharuzzaman said any remaining funds in the then prime minister’s relief fund—now under the chief advisor—related to the Rana Plaza disaster should be distributed by the current government to the victims.

“This is now an opportunity. If there are still funds available, as is believed, they should be distributed among those entitled who have yet to receive their due share, based on specific criteria and policy guidelines,” he added.

HOW ARE THE INJURED FARING NOW

Ethertex Limited worker and teenage survivor Yanur Akter was trapped during the Rana Plaza collapse and rescued around 3am on the night of the incident.

The body of her mother, Anwara Begum, who worked on an upper floor, was recovered 14 days later.

Though Yanur has undergone long-term treatment, her legs have not healed properly. She now walks with crutches.

Although physically unfit for regular work, she has tried to find a job but remains unemployed, living with a disability.

“My two legs are gone, my mother is dead. I have no job, no ability to get by,” she told bdnews24.com.

“This is how I’m surviving. But for how long? How long can this go on? I’m in a worse condition than someone backed into a wall.”

Following the tragedy, Yanur got married. While her family survives on her husband’s limited income, she regrets not being able to feed their 4-year-old child properly.

She said: “For 12 years I’ve been saying I have no work—has anyone listened? Has anyone valued my emotions? Has anyone felt my pain? Are we even considered human?

“Nowadays, even a healthy person struggles to earn a living. We’re surviving on just one income. If my husband can’t earn, we starve.”

Yanur also alleged that they have not received the promised government funds.

“Is this the life we deserve? After the current government came to power, the ministry summoned us. But we still haven’t received anything.

“We’ve been protesting for 12 years—do people have no conscience? Everyone comes to talk to us when the anniversary comes around," she added.

Yanur said, "It took nine months to liberate a country, and we have been saying the same thing for a decade. I have no food in my stomach. What could be more shameful than this?"

Bulbuli Akter, who worked on the eighth floor of a garment factory in Rana Plaza, was rescued about 12 hours after the collapse, around 8pm. She sustained spinal injuries.

“I’ve been fighting for life for 12 years, she said. “A disabled person has nothing left. I wasn’t born like this. But now I can’t get a job or live properly,” she said.

"I approached an elder brother and wandered from door to door for six months,” Bulbuli added.

“Eventually, I managed to open a tea stall on the footpath in Genda Bazar about a month ago. But even in this short time, my stall has been demolished three times.

“So just imagine where our lives have ended up.”

Bulbuli, also unemployed for over a decade, raised questions about the earlier government’s relief funds. “I received Tk 50,000—that was the start and the end of it.

“I heard Tk 1.27 billion came in our name, of which Tk 220 million was spent. The remaining Tk 1.05 billion was reportedly kept in a government fund for us.

“But what happened to that money? Even now, we haven’t received anything—not even a follow-up.”

“Now that a new government has come, they called us and made promises. But it hasn’t gone beyond promises,” she added.

Garments Workers Unity Forum President Mushrefa Mishu told bdnews24.com, “The owners of the garment factories in that building should have been prosecuted—not just the building owner Sohel Rana.

“But they’re all out on bail. Even after a decade, not one of them has been brought to justice.”

On Apr 29, 2013, Sohel Rana was arrested by RAB while fleeing to India through Benapole.

He has remained in prison since then. Among the other accused, some are absconding and others out on bail.

The murder and building code violation cases are still under trial.

[Writing in English by Syed Mahmud Onindo and Sheikh Fariha Bristy]