Now begins a period of mourning for our fellow Bangladeshis whom we lost in the Rana Plaza tragedy in Savar. The deceased weren’t merely another faceless group of garments workers; it would be an insult to treat them as such. These were hard-working men and women who toiled at the garment factories in order to support their families, and they deserve our respect and our heartfelt condolences. Their grieving families deserve the same.
Let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers. What’s more, let us pray for those who are still trapped beneath the rubble, pray that they are saved, and that those who are injured recover from this tragic ordeal. They need to know that we, as a nation, stand beside them in support. They need to know they are not alone.
If nothing else can come out of this, at least let it galvanise us out of our bubble existence, and into action. We can no longer carry on with our lives, and ignore the reality around us. We can no longer pretend all is well, when that is far from the truth.
Let us make a vow, as residents of this nation, to ensure that such a horrendous incident never happens again. Let us, from this moment on, hold every single person accountable for every single criminal act.
Let us all put our hearts and souls into the betterment of Bangladesh, and set aside our greed. That would, ultimately, be in our best interests.
Our thoughts are with the deceased. May they rest in peace, and may their families find justice and closure.
