PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL)

The State

1. Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing
2. Secretary, Ministry of LGRD
3. Secretary, Ministry of Home
4. Secretary, Ministry of Health
5. Secretary, Ministry of Finance
6. Secretary, Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management
7. Bangladesh Bank
8. GOC, 9 Division, Savar Cantonment
9. IGP, Dhaka
10. Deputy Commissioner, Dhaka
11. Superintendent of Police, Dhaka
12. UNO, Savar
13. Chief Inspector of Factory and Establishment, Savar
14. IGR, Savar
15. OC, Savar police Station
16. Mayor, Savar Pourashava
17. BGME, Dhaka
18. Sohel Rana
19. Chairman & MD, Eather Text Ltd
20. Chairman & MD, New Wave Bottoms Ltd
21. Chairman & MD, New Wave Style Ltd
22. Chairman & MD, Phantom Apparels Ltd
23. Chairman & MD, Phantom Text Ltd
24. Mr. Fazlul Huq, Engineer, Rana Plaza
25. Local Branch Manager, Brac Bank, Savar
26. Chairman, RAJUK, Dhaka

Rana Plaza building collapse was one of the deadliest garment factory accidents in the history of RMG industry in Bangladesh causing at least 1,137 lives injuring 2500 people most of whom were garment workers. Women made up 80% of the dead and injured. Many of the deceased or the injured were the only income earners in their families, as result, the harm of the immediate and direct loss is amplified. Most of the survivors are illiterate and little or no knowledge of their rights to make claims under “Practical Arrangement” and have limited capacity to complete claim forms.

On 30.04.2013 High Court Division issued a Sue Moto Rule Nisi to show cause as to Sohel Rana and the owner/ Chairman/ MD of 5 garments shall not be directed to pay compensation to the victims and their families. Directed the Secretary, LGRD & Co-operative to inform what preventive measures they have taken in respect of all buildings and structures which are posing a threat to human lives and properties and RAJUK to submit the list of those buildings. The Court directed BGMEA to furnish a list of garment industries whom they certify to have complied with all adequate legal requirements and workable conditions. Chief Inspector of Factory and Establishment directed to furnish a list of building which do not have the required adequate legal and workable conditions, to form a committee to compensate the injured workers. Bangladesh Bank directed to freeze the ‘Rana Plaza’ bank account, to confiscate all moveable and immoveable properties of Sohel Rana, not to register any transfer deed in respect of properties of Sohel Rana.

Mr. Justice Mirza Hussain Haider
Mr. Justice Muhammad KhursidAlam Sarkar