Rana's mother sent to jail on surrender

A Dhaka court yesterday sent Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana's mother to jail when she surrendered before it in a graft case filed over the building collapse in 2013.

Morzina Begum was denied bail in the case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission in June 2014.

The court also fixed September 13 for hearing on charge framing against Rana and 17 others.

At least 1,135 people, mostly readymade garment workers, died in the biggest workplace disaster in Savar on April 24, 2013 when multistoried Rana Plaza caved in.

ACC on June 15, 2014 filed the case alleging that the building authorities obtained permission for a six-storey building but later extended it by three more floors. The Savar municipal authorities, including their engineers, gave the nod for the illegal construction, it says, adding that they approved the setting up of garment factories on the top six floors though the nine-storey building was supposed to be a shopping complex.