12 years on, Rana Plaza tragedy victims still cry for justice, compensation

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy.

Like every year relatives of deceased workers, survivors, and leaders of several labour organisations gathered at the site in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, to honour the victims and renew their long-standing demands for justice and compensation.

Since early morning, mourners have laid flowers at a makeshift altar erected in front of the collapsed building, where 1,136 people were killed and over 2,000 injured on April 24, 2013, when the 10-storey structure caved in during working hours.

Survivors and their families still say little has changed. Many have yet to receive adequate compensation or see justice delivered.

They called for the harshest punishment for those responsible, including building owner Sohel Rana, and proper compensation.

Salma Akhter, a former garment worker who was on the eighth floor of Rana Plaza during the collapse, shared her continued struggle.

"I'm living an inhumane life. My spinal cord injury has left me unable to return to a normal existence. I've received nothing but a token donation—no compensation, no justice," Salma told The Daily Star.

"We want the culprits punished and our demands met."

Her story echoed that of hundreds of survivors who suffer from long-term injuries and poverty, with limited access to medical care or financial support.

For many, the anniversary is a day of deep personal mourning. Rahela Begum, who lost her son Rabbi Mia in the collapse, visits the site every year to seek solace and demand justice.

"My son was murdered. I've cried until my tears have run dry," she said, holding back tears.

"We deserve justice. We demand 48 lakh taka—the value of a human life."

Despite years of inaction, labour leaders remain cautiously hopeful that the interim government will finally deliver on their demands.

"The Rana Plaza collapse was a premeditated crime," said Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre.

"Successive governments have ignored our calls. Now, we are hopeful the interim authority will bring justice."

Rafiqul Islam Sujan, president of the Bangladesh Garments and Shilpa Sramik Federation, said, "Not a single demand has been met. We still hope this government will change that."

Marking the 12th anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy, the National Citizen Party (NCP) today organised a commemorative programme titled "13th to 24th: Commemoration and Settlement for Workers' Renovation" at the site of the collapsed building in Savar.

The event began at 11:30am with a discussion meeting attended by relatives of those killed, injured survivors, labour leaders, and activists.

Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the party's central committee, along with other leaders and activists from various tiers of the organisation, were present.

The party said the event was organised to express solidarity with the victims of the disaster and to reiterate its commitment to the rights and welfare of garment workers in Bangladesh.

Since 2013, labour groups have organised annual programmes with demands that include declaring April 24 as National Workers' Mourning Day, constructing a permanent memorial at the Rana Plaza site, rehabilitating injured and affected workers, and ensuring lifetime-equivalent compensation for survivors.