No transparency in PM's relief fund for Rana Plaza victims
The government has failed to show transparency in collecting and distributing money for the victims of the Rana Plaza building collapse, a BNP leader said yesterday.
“There was no transparency and accountability in dealing with the Prime Minister's relief fund. It is still unclear who received how much money from the relief fund and who contributed to the fund,” said Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury who is also an adviser to the BNP chairperson.
Chowdhury's comment came at a dialogue --BBC Bangladesh Sanglap -- to mark the first anniversary of the building collapse.
Prime Minster's Adviser HT Imam, however, said the relief fund is handled with "full transparency". “I will give details of the fund if anybody wants.”
The government has so far distributed Tk 22.53 crore to the victims from the relief fund, he said at the dialogue at Biam auditorium in the capital.
Nazma Akter, president of Sammilito Garment Sramik Federation, a platform of apparel workers, urged the government to provide compensation to the victims as soon as possible. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has provided money to the victims as donation from her fund. It is not compensation,” she said.
Nazma also stressed the need for coordination among different government and private agencies and support from major political parties for improving workplace safety in the garment sector.
All the missing workers of the Rana Plaza will get compensation when their DNA tests will be complete, said Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
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