Dhaka-A Dhaka court on Tuesday framed charges against 18 accused, including Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana, in the case filed for violating the building code while constructing the building that collapsed in 2013 killing 1136 people. Dhaka’s Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate M Mustafizur Rahman framed charges against Rana, his father Abdul Khaleq, his mother Marzina Begum and 15 others under section 12 of the Building Construction Act 1952. The court fixed August 23 to begin with recording deposition of witnesses. One hundred and thirty persons were made accused in the case.
On Tuesday morning, counsels of the accused filed discharge petitions to the court and the court rejected their pleas and framed charges. Of the 18 accused, Rana and former Chief Engineer of Savar Municipality, M Rafiqul Islam are now behind the bar while 11 others are on bail and five are still on the run. The court also issued arrest warrants to detain the fugitives.
After the judge read out charges to 13 accused, present in the courtroom, they pleaded
not guilty and wanted justice to the court.
A total of 1,136 people, mostly garment workers, were killed and 2,515 others injured as the building came down in Savar on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka at about 9 am on April 24, 2013.
On June 1, 2015, Assistant Police Super of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Bijoy Krishna Kar submitted a charge-sheet against the 18 accused.-Court Correspondent
