Valueless Lives - The Rana Plaza Story

BitterAIR

It has happened yet again. It is being proved over and over again, that in Bangladesh, people’s lives have no value. Especially if they are poor. Unless you’re a politician, or a big businessman, or SOMEONE important, you are no one. And if you ARE any of the above, or their siblings or family, nobody else exists for you in the first place. I guess it works out fine for you then. Your food comes automatically, your elaborate, comfortable bed has materialized out of nowhere, your branded clothes, bags, shoes are bought with money that no one worked for and the building/house/mansion, whatever you are living in has either always been there or has materialized out of thin air. Good for you. You can stop reading here.

For the rest of the people who care, who actually value people’s lives, here is the scoop. Today, on April 24, 2013, at 9 A.M. in the morning, an 8 story building called Rana Plaza collapsed in Savar, near the local Savar Bazaar bus stand. That building housed a Brac Bank branch, numerous shops and offices and 6 garments factories. The building was under construction and had shown cracks and signs of collapse for the past few days. The owners of the building were aware of this, the owners of the garments factories were aware of this. The local authorities were aware of this and had “apparently” warned everyone to stay away from the building pending investigation from BUET officials and experts.

The plaza was owned by Awami League youth front Juba League’s Senior Joint Convenor, Md Sohel Rana. He had apparently said the cracks were nothing serious.

The owners of the garments factories also dismissed the cracks and ordered – even threatened – the workers to join work at 8 A.M. in the morning. The workers stood outside the building and were forcibly pulled into the building in order to start the day. Within an hour there was a loud sound and the building collapsed.

Until writing of this report, 83 people have been reported dead and almost 800 people have been reported injured. This is an estimated figure – the real number is feared to be massive. According to the figures at BGMEA there were 6 garments factories in this building with a total 2,638 employees. There were roughly 300-500 workers on each floor. These are just the official figures - the real numbers can only be accounted for by the owners. 

Will anyone take responsibility for this massacre? Will the owners and authorities ever be punished? Will the victims and their families ever receive justice? Isn't it time for us to wake up and look around?

May Allah have mercy on those who are still stuck inside the Savar building, and help the rescuers safely pull them out of danger without the building collapsing further. Our prayers are with the victims and their families. We hope that the people responsible for this massacre will be caught and duly punished.

Police and other officials are busy rescuing those under the building. Lack of adequate machinery is not helping the condition too. If you are near Savar, then please go and give a hand. Also the hospital desperately needs blood - PLEASE donate at a near blood bank and have it sent to Enam Medical http://www.emcbd.com/contact/.

There is an urgent need of negative blood types ( A-, B-, AB-, O-) 

Phone: +88-02-7743778-82

Mobile: +8801718846107

Fax: +88-02-7743778

Email: emc_savar@yahoo.com

Website: www.emcbd.com

**Relief Information**

If you want to help out but cannot donate blood, please send the following items:

1. Oxygen Masks
2. Oxygen ( Available at Lazz Pharma for Tk 1000 but they will reduce the price to Tk. 830 if you mention Savar) 
3. Oxygen spray ( Available at Lazz Pharma for Tk. 200)
4. Goggles or Sunglasses
5. Air Freshener
6. Dry food (Cakes, Biscuits, Chips, Puffed rice, etc.)
7. Oral Saline
8. Juice
9. 7 inch medical gloves
10. Bottled water
11. Torch with batteries
12. Charge light with batteries
13. Drilling machine
14. Cutting equipment. 

Please send the items to the following address:

Asiatic Center

House 63, 

Road 7B,

Block H,

Banani

Contact: 01779012817

Obhizatrik Foundation

Obhizatrik Foundation has arranged another huge campaign to collect blood on Friday the 26th for " Rana Plaza" 

accident victim. 

Location: Free School

.Address: House: 01, Road: 02, Pallabi (Beside Setara 

Convention Center), Mirpur, Dhaka-1216

Time: 3 pm

Anybody who would like to donate blood for the victims from the accident can join us. There are over thousand of victims and people are dying. We already lost many life but we don't want any more. Come forward and join our hand and help them survive. Save as many life as possible. They are counting on you.

Contact Info:

Ahmed Imtiaz Jami 

+88 01677040904

A B Siddik Nice 

+88 01672509996

**Update**

I just recieved inside news from BGMEA that the government and BGMEA have made a deal to lower the facts and death tolls. Please be aware of this and take all the figures you receive with a pinch of salt. 

It's absolutely DISGRACEFUL that while thousands of lives are at stake all these selfish bastards can think about is how to prevent this from affecting their business. SHAME. 

The latest death toll as on 7:35 P.M. BST is 223 - no idea if it is the real or edited number.