RANA Plaza disaster is a blot on the nation and the unfulfilled commitment made to the family of the victims and the survivors only adds to their anguish. In fact the action of the concerned persons and groups has added doubts in the minds of the international community whether we can at all regenerate the vitality in the sector where “Made in Bangladesh” will not be disincentive for the buyers at the retail level.
A report presented on Saturday by the CPD on the progress made so far after 100 days of the disaster paints a rather dismal picture regarding the fulfillment of commitments made by the government, the BGMEA and other stakeholders. Although the PMO’s office have disbursed some compensation money, it is regrettable that as yet 700 members of the family of the dead or missing are yet to received what they were promised by the PM. And much of the BGMEA’s promise remains a promise only.
What the government should take note of and what was amply expressed in the discussion is that this was no disaster but cold blooded murder caused by the dismal failure of governance, particularly of the failure to exercise oversight at every level. And what is required is a strict regime to ensure that such lapses, many of them due to political pressure, did not occur. In this regard we endorse the CPD’s initiative to form a forum with 14 other organisations to act as a pressure group to ensure that whatever was promised is delivered.