The government has filed 11 cases with the Dhaka Labour Court against owners of the garment factories housed in Rana Plaza and the owner of the building. They are charged with keeping the authorities in dark over the development of cracks in the building and negligence in ensuring the safety of workers.
Sakib Mubarrat, an inspector of Labour Court filed five cases on April 25 under sections of the Bangladesh Labour Law 2006.
Md Shahidul Islam, another inspector, filed six separate cases on April 28.
The punishment under these sections is four years of imprisonment and fine of Tk100,000.
The Labour Court judge, Miah Md Sharif Hossain, issued arrest warrants against the accused. The court also fixed May 25 for submitting the execution report in the presence of the accused.
The accused are: Chairman Bazlus Samad Adnan and Executive Director Delowar Ahmed of New Wave Bottoms and New Wave Style, Md Monir Hossain, managing director of New Wave Styles; Aminul Islam, chairman of Phantom Tac and Phantom Apparels, David Mayor Rako, managing director of Phantom Tac and Phantom Apparels; Md Anisur Rahman, chairman of Ethertex, Md Nazrul Islam director of Ethertex; Jannatul Ferdous, director of Ethertex and Phantom Tac; ABM Siddique, Suraya Begum, directors of Phantom Apparels; AR Ayub Hossain, director New Wave bottoms; and Zafar Ahmed, director of Phantom Apparels.
Rana built the eight-storey building on a pond after allegedly taking over possession from its Hindu owner and then filling the pond up with sand. He also flouted construction regulations and used substandard building materials, sources said.
The building collapsed on April 24 leaving at least 380 people dead and several hundred injured.
