Savar mayor suspended for negligence

Savar municipality Mayor Md Refatullah has been suspended for irregularities in approving the design of the nine-storey Rana Plaza that collapsed on April 24.
He has also been charged with negligence and failure to take proper action after several cracks had developed in the building, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives yesterday.
The ministry also issued a show-cause notice on the mayor, asking him to explain his stance. Further action would be taken after getting his reply.
In another development, the Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Kabir Hossain Sarder, was withdrawn over his controversial role ahead of the collapse.
An official notification yesterday he had been sent to the public administration ministry as an officer on special duty.
Rana Plaza, housing five readymade garment factories, caved in on the morning of April 24, leaving at least 446 dead.
The building owner, Sohel Rana, two engineers and four factory owners have been arrested in connection with the incident.
UNB reports that Refatullah, who is also president of Savar municipality BNP, maintains very close relations with local Awami League lawmaker Murad Jong, who is facing an image crisis for patronising Sohel Rana.
Rana Plaza had the approval of a five-storey building from the municipality. Later, Sohel Rana built an additional four floors on the structure illegally, reportedly with the help of Refatullah and Murad.
According to media reports, the workers of the factories had come out of the building in fear of collapse after cracks appeared in the eight-storey complex on April 23.
Later, the authorities of the factories shut their factories by cutting short the duty hours of the workers.
On being informed, UNO Kabir rushed to the spot and declared the building risk-free after visiting the building.
Yesterday's notification, however, said the order making him OSD had been issued in the public interest.
Another allegation against Kabir is that he along with the local OC rescued Sohel Rana, now in jail, from the collapsed building and helped him flee the scene.
Earlier, Kabir was dropped from the probe committee formed by the home ministry to look into the building crash.