The owner of the Rana Plaza factory complex in Bangladesh
which collapsed in April 2013 with the loss of more than 1,100 lives has been
charged with murder. It was the deadliest event of its kind in modern times.
Sohel Rana and 41 others, including government officials, are accused
of ignoring warnings that the buildings, about 20 miles from the capital, Dhaka,
were not safe. Any convicted of murder could face the death penalty.
There has been criticism of the length of time it has taken to
bring charges, but investigators say they have had to take statements from more
than 1,200 people. It is said this is the first time anyone has faced criminal
charges over an accident in the country’s clothing industry, which is one of the
biggest in the world, and provides cheap items for some well-known Western
retailers.
It is alleged that three extra storeys had been illegally added to
the building. After the disaster, Mr Rana tried to flee to India. (For more
details, see my blog of 3 May 2013.)
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