A group of civil society organisations launched an initiative to extensively monitor the implementation of the commitments given by the government and stakeholders in regards to the rehabilitation of the victims of the Rana Plaza collapse.
The organisations will monitor the implementation process for one year after the date of the building collapse.
The group put forward the initiatives after a group of survivors, workers and labour rights activists, pointed out that the victims were increasingly becoming a forgotten case just four months after the country's worst-ever industrial accident which killed at least 1,132 workers and injured about 2,500.
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) launched the initiative in partnership with the Institute of Architects Bangladesh, Ain o Salish Kendra, Ahsania Mission, ActionAid Bangladesh, Gono Shakkhorota Abhijan, Transparency International Bangladesh, Nari Pakkha, Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Manusher Jonno Foundation and Shushashoner Jonnoy Nagorik, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
The civil society organisations presented an independent monitoring report on Saturday titled “100 Days of Rana Plaza Tragedy: A Report on Commitments and Delivery†at the auditorium of CIRDAP in the city.
Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of the CPD, said the initiative was launched so the tragedy did not disappear like many other deadly tragedies which occurred in the past.
CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan, who chaired the dialogue, said: "We, as a community, have to assume responsibility so that incidents like the Rana Plaza building collapse aren't repeated."
The initiative could work by the groups collectively putting pressure on the government and other stakeholders to ensure they discharge their responsibilities properly. The tragedy was not the first time or would not be the last time, he said.
"How do we regulate when nobody could be held accountable?" the economist asked, blaming a dysfunctional regulatory regime and weak governance for the whole crisis.
Following the tragedy on April 24, the government, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and a number of local and international organisations made their pledges and commitments.
Approximately 350 families of deceased workers did not get the full support as promised by the prime minister, and about 350 families of the missing workers also did not get compensation from the BGMEA, said K G Moazzem, additional research director of the CPD.
Moazzem also pointed that a number of international brands and organisations had committed funds following the accident but their promises were yet to be followed through with.
Discussing the issue briefly, a number of survivors who were present during the meeting said they had only received between Tk16, 000 and Tk21, 000 so far since the incident.
The BGMEA asked its members to donate Tk25, 000 each to the prime minister's fund but one participant complained that many garment factory owners had not yet donated the money despite the amount being relatively insignificant.
Nilu Sardar, who used to work on the third floor of the Rana Plaza building and lost an eye in the incident, said he only received Tk16, 000 from the retail brand Primark.
“I can't buy medicine. We were told that we would be given four months' of salary, but I have so far received a month's salary,†claimed Shabana Akhter, who was rescued three days after the building collapse.
Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, a former president at the BGMEA, said the factory owners were compensating the workers taking into account inflation and prices of the essential commodities.
Architect Abu Sayed Ahmed said 90% of buildings in the country were non-engineered buildings and were not built following due procedures. "Professionals have to be given the task of designing the buildings."
Commerce Minister GM Quader also admitted that a lack of good governance was a major problem for the country. He also responded to concerns about transparency of the management of the Prime Minister's Fund, saying also that there should be transparency.
BNP lawmaker Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi Papiya urged the garment factory owners to set up hospitals for the garments workers instead of presenting gifts to the politicians.
Anis Ud Dowla, a former president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the political parties should not allow politicians like Sohel Rana to set up the factories in violation of building rules.
Zillul Hye Razi, trade advisor of European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, said the country's garment sector would have to be careful about labour rights and working conditions at the factories, as the European Union would closely watch developments in the sector throughout 2014.
Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shujan, said the political powers and the business powers have merged into one power that doesn't care about following laws.
