Probe body formed over Savar tragedy

Curious people gather at debris of a nine-storey building that collapsed at Savar Wednesday morning. Star file photo

The government on Thursday formed a five-member probe committee to investigate the Wednesday's building collapse, which so far claimed 191 lives and injured 1,200 others in Savar.

Meanwhile, two cases were filed in connection with the building collapse Wednesday night.

The government-formed probe body has been asked to investigate the reasons behind the building collapse, find out the negligence of the authorities and ascertain the extent of the casualties, said Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir.

The committee will have to submit its report within seven working days, the minister told reporters at the secretariat around noon.

Mainuddin Khandaker, additional secretary of home ministry, has been made chief of the committee. The other members include the superintendent of police in Dhaka and upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Savar.

Rana Plaza, a nine-storey build, housing five garment factories, a shopping complex and a branch of Brac Bank, collapsed Wednesday morning, trapping a huge number of people inside.

Sohel Rana, the owner of RanaPlaza, has been made accused in the two the cases filed with Savar Police Station Wednesday night, said Md Jamil Ahmed, assistant sub-inspector of the police station.

Helaluddin, an authorised officer of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), filed the first case against Rana for the structural fault found at the building and constructing the structure using substandard materials and violating building code.

Wali Ashraf, a sub-inspector of Savar Police Station, filed the other case against Rana, his father Abdul Khalek and the owners of the five garments housed in the collapsed building for loss of lives and damages.

The names of the garment owner could not be known immediately.