"Right activists worry over govt inaction in compensating victims, pending of 18 cases ", 18 April 2023

Trade union leaders, survivors of Rana Plaza collapse, right activists and jurists at a discussion on Monday expressed anxiety over not disposing of any of the 18 cases relating to the destruction of the structure...

The speakers made their grievance at the discussion on ‘Workplace Safety and Workers’ Protection’ jointly organised by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust and Safety and Rights society at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific auditorium in the capital.

According to the organisers, four writ petitions filed by several rights organisations seeking compensation to families of the deceased workers and the survivors and ensuring the workers’ safety have been pending with the High Court for 10 years while nine civil cases relating to violation of workers’ rights and noncompliance workers’ safety by factory owners remained pending with the labour tribunals in Dhaka for 10 years.

The remaining three criminal cases, two of which relate to killing and maiming [of] Rana Plaza workers, are pending with the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge’s Court since December 2016 because of non-appearance of prosecution witnesses.

The other case relates to violation of the building code by the owners of Rana Plaza is pending with the chief judicial magistrate court in Dhaka.

The speakers also recommended evaluation of health condition of survived workers and the state of financial situation, publication of the list of deceased and injured workers, construction of specialised hospital for the treatment of workers, ensuring speedy disposal of all pending cases without giving adjournment of hearing and production of prosecution witnesses during the trials.

They sought steps from the government and union leaders to ensure fixation of proper compensation to the victims in line with the standard set by the International Labour Organisation, to rehabilitate workers with disabilities, increase the number of labour courts and labour Appellate Tribunal, amendment to labour law, increase manpower to the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments...