Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday informed Parliament that the government will find out the garment factory owners who had forced the workers to enter into the Rana Plaza knowing that the building was in grave danger.“It was most unfortunate that the owners forcibly put the garment workers in the factories knowing that the building was in grave danger,” she said while giving a statement in the House on the Savar building collapse.
The garment factories housed at eight-storey Rana Plaza are: New Wave Style Ltd, Ether Tax Ltd, New Wave Bottoms Ltd, Phantom Apparels Ltd and Phantom Textiles.
The Prime Minister said that the government has identified those who forced the workers to enter into the building. “We figured out who are responsible. We will trace them wherever they are and we will punish them.”
She said that the owners of the garment factories knew that one pillar of the building was broken and the building was in danger.
Mentioning that two cases have already been filed in this connection, she said, “We can’t condone such kind of game with the lives of the people. We’ll give them exemplary punishment and we will take actions quickly.”
Hasina also mentioned that just a day before the collapse of the Rana Plaza, a crack developed in the building with a pillar totally broken and the local administration declared the building unusable.
She said that the government has already formed an inquiry committee in this regard and the committee will submit its report.
Regarding the allegation that the building’s owner, Sohel Rana, is a member of Jubo League, the Prime Minister said no one will be spared whatever the party affiliation.
“It is no big deal who comes from which party. One who commits a crime has to face the trial. No one will be spared even if such persons belong to my party,” she said.
About Rana’s involvement in the Jubo League, Hasina said that she had taken the name of Jubo League committee of Savar and Rana’s name was not in that list.
She mentioned that the Rana Plaza was built during 2006-2007 period.
“If anyone wants to be spared taking the advantage of party affiliation, my word is clear: there is no scope to escape from this crime. I can say that without any hesitation,” she said amid thumping of desk by the lawmakers.
The Prime Minister requested the people to keep faith on the government in this regard.
She again thanked the opposition for lifting their hartal on the day of disaster after her appeal.
But, Hasina criticized the opposition leader’s visit to the area saying that this visit the rescue operation was stopped. “The whole rescue operation was suspended during her visit there,” she said.
She mentioned that during the opposition leader’s visit the rescue operation was stopped fearing any accident as there was the possibility of flying objects from the rescue operation area causing injury to her.
The Prime Minister also said that during the visit of the opposition leader, hundreds of people gathered in the area that caused a massive problem for the operation and transportation of the injured persons to the hospital through ambulances.
She requested the people not to gather at the rescue operation area without having any genuine reason.
About the ransacking of vehicles and buildings by some people, Hasina said such acts will not bring good to anyone. “I will request all to remain calm and cooperate with us to complete the rescue operation.”
Talking about the people injured in the building collapse, she said that the government would continue their treatment.
In her statement, the Prime Minister said so far, more than 1,800 people have been rescued alive from under the debris of collapsed building while 210 persons were found dead of which 179 bodies have been handed over to relatives with financial assistance for burial.
She also said that of the total rescued alive, 1402 are injured.
“I asked the Health Minister to arrange doctors and bed in the hospital so that the injured persons could get proper treatment quickly,” Hasina said.
She said that she was monitoring the rescue operation from time to time. UNB
