Although eight years have passed since Rana Plaza tragedy, nothing really changed for the victims in terms of providing them with compensation and ensuring justice, said speakers at an online discussion.

Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity (BGWS) organised the event -- Eight years of Raza Plaza Killings: Workers Lives and State's Responsibility -- on Friday night, marking eight years of the building collapse that killed at least 1,138 persons and injured hundreds.

Economist Prof Anu Muhammad said, "Even after eight years, justice was not ensured for the victims. They were given donations in the name of compensation."

He said, "BGMEA promised job opportunities for every Rana Plaza survivor, but they didn't fulfill that. It happened due to lack of accountability."

"The High Court directed to compensate the victims. But it was the responsibility of the state and BGMEA to arrange proper compensation for victims," he added.

"It's shameful that even after eight years of the tragedy, workers have to take to the street for their due salaries and get killed for it," he said, referring to the recent incident in Chattogram's Banshkhali.

Rights activist Hameeda Hossain said due to lack of monitoring and implementation of law, people like the owner of Raza Plaza building are getting away with it.

On safety of workers amid coronavirus, she said neither physical distancing at the factories nor transportation services for workers by their employers are being ensured. "If the workers are to provide their labour, then their safety needs to be ensured; their labour isn't cheap," she said.

BGWS president Taslima Akhter said, "The government promised that the wage system will be changed. But there's been no major change in its structure."

She said the money handed over to victims by Rana Plaza Donor Trust Fund came from both public and private sectors as donations but not as compensation that workers are legally entitled to.

Rana Plaza survivor Rupali Akhter, who now works at Savar EPZ, said, "We work for hours at the factory and spend our lives there but our situation doesn't change."

"We have to go to workplaces spending money amid the pandemic. Most of our incomes are being spent as travel cost… we want our lives to improve… we want safety and security," she said.

She demanded proper compensation for victims and exemplary punishment for those responsible for the Rana Plaza tragedy.

Writer and anthropologist Rahnuma Ahmed and BGWS secretary Julhas Nain Babu were also present at the discussion.