A Dhaka court yesterday sent to jail Morzina Begum, mother of Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana, in a case filed by the ACC for violating the building code that caused the death of over 1,135 workers in 2013.
Dhaka’s Divisional Court Judge M Atoar Rahman rejected her bail petition. Earlier, she surrendered before the court. The court also set October 11 for indictment hearing.
The ACC filed the case with Savar police on June 15 last year against 17 including Sohel Rana for constructing the building illegally.
The charge sheet says Savar municipality initially approved six-storeys but later permitted four more floors. The municipality has no authority to approve beyond six-storeys.
The authorities also approved setting up garment factories on the top six floors, although it was supposed to be a shopping mall.
The building that housed five garment factories collapsed on April 24, 2013 killing over a thousand workers injuring 2,500 others. Dozen others still remain missing.
The accused include Savar Municipality Mayor Mohammad Refatullah; Associate Professor of Khulna University Abdur Razzak, who was the architect of the building; former chief executive officer of Savar Municipality Uttam Kumar Roy; former Savar ward commissioner Mohamamd Ali Khan; and Rana’s parents Abdul Khalek and Morzina Begum.
