Govt misusing fund raised for Rana Plaza victims: BNP

Noting that Rana Plaza incident is tantamount to a massacre, BNP on Thursday accused the government of misusing the huge fund raised for helping the victims’ family members. “We know Rana Plaza owner is an Awami League leader. We also know the workers had forcefully been taken into the building to join works despite repeated warnings as it developed cracks. So, it’s tantamount to deliberate annihilation,” said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He further said, “The huge amount of money raised for helping the family members of those killed and ensuring better treatment of those injured is being misused.” The BNP spokesman was addressing a discussion and milad mahfil arranged on the ground floor of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in memory of those killed in the Rana Plaza collapse. Jatiyatabadi Muktijuddher Projonmo organised the programme, marking the first anniversary of the disaster that claimed over 1135 lives and injured at least 2,000 workers. Fakhrul alleged that various plots are being hatched to destroy Bangladesh’s RMG sector as its products gained huge popularity across the globe. Fakhrul lamented that the government unfortunately did not take any visible action against those responsible for the country’s deadliest incident. “No action will be taken against the culprits behind the carnage as long as this self-declared and undemocratic regime remains in office.” At the beginning of his speech, the BNP leader prayed for salvation of those killed in the incident and conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved family members. He also prayed for then early recovery of the injured workers still undergoing treatment, according to a news agency.