Finally, Rana on ACC charge sheet

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has finally included Sohel Rana in the charge sheet of the case filed for erecting Rana Plaza violating building code.

The ACC today approved the charge sheet of the case field on June 15 with Savar police station bringing allegation that the accused in league with each other had built Rana Plaza violating Bangladesh National Building Code that collapsed last year killing at least 1,135 people.

Rana was not included in the case which was filed against Savar municipal mayor, Rana's parents and 14 others.

"During investigation, several of the accused stated that Rana had exercised influence for constructing the faulty building and setting up garment factories illegally in the shopping complex," said ACC Commissioner Shahabuddin.

Replying to a question, the commissioner said Rana was not named in the FIR as he did not own the piece of land on which the building was constructed and had not made any formal appeal seeking approval for the building.

The commission will take steps to arrest all the charge-sheeted accused, Shahabuddin told reporters today at his office in the capital.

Among the 18 charge-sheeted accused, only Rana is behind the bars.

According to the case statement, the building authorities got permission for a six-storey building but later extended it by three more floors.

The Savar municipal authorities, including its engineers, gave the nod for the illegal construction, it says, adding that they approved setting up of garment factories on the top six floors though the nine-storey building was supposed to be a shopping complex.

Savar mayor Mohammad Refatullah, Associate Professor of Khulna University Abdur Razzak, who was the architect of the building; and Rana's parents--Abdul Khalek and Morzina Begum -- are among the accused.