Rana remanded

Detectives take Sohel Rana, the owner of Rana Plaza, out of a court in the capital on Monday. Photo: Palash Khan

A court in Dhaka on Monday ordered interrogation of Sohel Rana, the owner of a Savar building that collapsed Wednesday killing at least 381 people, under a 15-day police remand.

Anisur Rahman, owner of Ether Tex Ltd which was housed on the nine-storey Rana Plaza, was placed on 12-day remand in connection with the two cases filed in connection with the deadly collapse.

Meanwhile, Anil and Mithu, Rana’s aides who were arrested with him during a raid in Benapole Sunday, were remanded for five days in each of the two cases.

Earlier in the afternoon, police handed over the two cases to the Detective Branch of police for investigation.

Sohel Rana was made accused in both the cases filed with Savar Police Station Wednesday night hours after the collapse of the building.

Helaluddin, an authorised officer of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), filed the first case against Rana for the building’s structural fault and use of substandard materials and violation of 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 building for loss of lives and damages.

Detectives produced the four accused before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Dhaka around 3:50pm.

After hearing the investigators’ plea for interrogation of the accused under remand, the court placed the four under remand.