Left parties on Saturday called for a countrywide general strike on May 2 demanding the arrest of those responsible for the Savar tragedy that killed over 300.
Published : 27 Apr 2013, 06:35 AM
The parties demanded that the owners of the ill-fated building, five readymade garment (RMG) factories and the government officials whose negligence caused the collapse should be arrested immediately.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BaSad) and Ganatantrik Baam Morcha gave the call at separate press briefings in Dhaka on Saturday.
Over 300 people died and hundreds are feared missing in the worst ever industrial disaster in the country. The nine-storey structure caved in on Wednesday, a day after huge cracks appeared on its wall.
CPB General Secretary Syed Abu Zafar announced their 10-point charter of demands. At a separate press briefing the Baam Morcha also endorsed the strike call.
They demanded that Sohel Rana, owner of Rana Plaza, the owners of the garment factories and the erring government officials be arrested within 24 hours and given “exemplary” punishment.
Police have detained two of the factory owners and two engineers of the Savar Municipality on Saturday in connection with the collapse.
Apart from these, they demanded trials of all the owners of the garment factories, including Spectrum, and Tazreen Fashions, that were hit by some or other form of industrial disaster in the past.
The parties further called for stringent action against government officials whose negligence had caused these disasters.
In 2005, the building where unit of the Spectrum garment was located had collapsed while a devastating fire engulfed Tazreen last November killing at least 110 workers.
The left parties also demanded compensation for the injured workers.
To press for their demand and to protest “huge loss of lives” at Savar the parties announced countrywide agitations from April 28-30.
They said the May Day will be observed duly.