Several hundred relatives of Rana Plaza’s victims were seen waiting at the Adhar Chandra School premises for news of their dear one’s body on Monday night, the day the rescue operation was finally called off.
On the 20th day since rescue operations began, Major General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, commanding officer of the ninth infantry division of Bangladesh Army, declared the end of operation at a press briefing.
Around 200 relatives were seen at the Adhar Chandra school grounds holding photos of their missing relatives. The discovery of Reshma on the 17th day after the building collapse, raised hopes more may be found alive, or find their remains.
The lights at the school were being switched off, and around 50 empty coffins were lying scattered in the field, a scene that could describe the emotional state of those still waiting and hoping for news.
Most people, who were there last night, had lost more than one relative in the incident on April 24. Everyone present took part in prayers held for missing victims yesterday.
With the closure of operations and no more bodies recovered on the last day, the only mean for those waiting is by DNA tests. Many relatives gave blood samples for DNA matching in the hope of finding the bodies of their near ones from the bodies still unidentified, which were buried in the capital’s Jurain graveyard with the help of the charity organisation Anjuman Mofidul Islam.
Fazlur Rahman Mridha from Noagaon lost both his wife and daughter. He was handed his daughter Khadiza’s body on April 24, but has not been able to trace his wife Asma Begum yet. Khadiza used to work in the 5th floor and Asma on the 3rd floor of Rana Plaza.
Abdul Mannan, a brother who lost two younger sisters Bonna Akhter and Tanjina Akhter, was also waiting at the school. He received Tanjina’s body on the 9th day of rescue operation, but was yet to receive Bonna’s body. Bonna used to work on the 3rd floor as a sewing operator, and Tanjina worked on the 6th floor.
Around 60 policemen were patrolling the school; along with volunteers and other officials from the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner’s office also present there on Monday night.
Meanwhile, the High Court on Monday asked the government to submit a list of missing victims from the Savar tragedy. The government will have to prepare the list on the basis of documents including photos, appointment letters, identity cards collected from relatives.