Families of 59 Rana Plaza victims, who have been missing since the day of incident on April 24 last year, yesterday were given Tk18,000 each as financial support ahead of Eid.
Red Crescent Society gave the money in association with Motorola Solution Foundation. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya distributed the aid at a programme in the Red Crescent headquarters at Nayatola in the capital.
Maya claimed that the government had given financial support to all the Rana Plaza victims and their families.
“We are also trying to identify the unidentified victims of the incident. The list of missing persons has also been prepared. They were also given financial support by the government and many non-government organisations.”
He said the government had spent around Tk4.5 crore to help the victims and their families, treatment of the survivors, conducting the rescue drive and procuring the disaster management machinery and equipment after the deadly collapse.
Of the amount, around Tk3.5 crore was spent to help the victims and their families, treatment of the survivors and carrying out the rescue drive. The government also arranged food for around 200 volunteers ever day during the rescue operation.
Terming the collapse incident “men-made disaster,” the minister said: “It is an unforgivable offence to commit such crimes only to earn more. Legal action should be taken against the criminals.”
He said the government had well-managed the disaster with support and assistance of the people.
Senior Information Officer of the ministry Omar Faruque Dewan said a total of 3,554 persons had been rescued from the site during the rescue drive. “Of them, 2,438 persons were rescued alive. Of the survivors, 18 persons died during treatment.”
So far, bodies of 842 persons have been handed over to their families. “The ministry gave the families of the deceased Tk20,000 each while the injured Tk5,000.”
Rest of the unidentified bodies were buried at the Shyampur Graveyard. “Of the unknowns, the government already identified around 200 victims through DNA tests.”
Around all the families had received certain amount of money as compensation from the government, owners and international buyers, Faruque added.
However, the families of victims and the survivors of Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions have been demonstrating for the last few weeks demanding their due compensation from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund before the Eid.