BANGLADESH: Thousands rally on May Day in Dhaka demanding justice after hundreds of workers were killed in the collapse of a garment factory complex in Savar

Record ID: 213966

  • Title: BANGLADESH: Thousands rally on May Day in Dhaka demanding justice after hundreds of workers were killed in the collapse of a garment factory complex in Savar
  • Date: 1st May 2013
  • Summary: DHAKA, BANGLADESH (MAY 1, 2013) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS GATHERED AT MAY DAY RALLY VARIOUS OF WORKERS HOLDING NATIONAL FLAGS AND RED FLAGS PLACARD READING IN ENGLISH: "STOP STOP KILLING" PLACARD READING IN ENGLISH: "ENSURE PROTECTION OF WOMEN WORKERS" PLACARD READING IN ENGLISH: "NO MORE DEAD BODY. NO MORE TRAGEDY" (SOUNDBITE) (English) LABOUR LEADER AMIRUL HOQ, SAYING: "We are actually celebrating this May Day with sorrow, because just a few days ago a building collapsed in which there were five factories. We actually lost 400 garment workers. Already some of the owners arrested, and we demand the other owners and responsible people should be arrested, and there will be exemplary punishment of these factory owners as well as the building owners." WORKERS MARCHING PLACARD OF CARTOON FACE PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER (SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) LABOUR LEADER MOSHREFA MISHU SAYING: "The workers who were killed in building collapse at Savar - we protest and we demand that the owner of the building must be given capital punishment. He should be hanged to death and compensation should be given to the injured and those who died. A healthy and safe atmosphere should be made in the factories." VARIOUS WORKERS MARCHING AND CHANTING
  • Embargoed: 16th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bangladesh
  • Country: Bangladesh
  • Topics: Accidents,Employment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA34BKAAO5LF7B8M40SWXON5B6K
  • Story Text: Several thousand protesters marched through the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday (May 1) calling for justice after the collapse of a garment factory complex that left hundreds dead.
    Factory employees gathered for the May Day rally in the centre of Dhaka demanding rights for women workers and an end to unsafe conditions.
    It came as rescue officials said they had given up hope of finding more survivors at the site of the collapsed building.
    At least 390 people have been confirmed dead in what is just the latest incident to raise serious questions about worker safety and low wages in the country that relies on garments for 80 percent of its exports.
    Labour leader Amirul Hoq said it was a sad day for workers across Bangladesh.
    "We are actually celebrating this May Day with sorrow, because just a few days ago a building collapsed in which there were five factories. We actually lost 400 garment workers. Already some of the owners arrested, and we demand the other owners and responsible people should be arrested, and there will be exemplary punishment of these factory owners as well as the building owners," he said.
    The owner of the collapsed building was brought before a court in Dhaka on Monday (April 29), where lawyers and protesters chanted "hang him, hang him".
    Dozens of relatives are still awaiting news of missing loved ones a week after the illegally constructed Rana Plaza building came crashing down as about 3,000 people worked inside.
    At the May Day march, Moshrefa Mishu demanded that officials take action to bring justice to the victims and enforce safety standards.
    "The workers who were killed in building collapse at Savar - we protest and we demand that the owner of the building must be given capital punishment. He should be hanged to death and compensation should be given to the injured and those who died. A healthy and safe atmosphere should be made in the factories," the labour leader said.
    Two Western retailers supplied by factories at Rana Plaza, Britain's Primark and Canada's Loblaw, have promised to compensate families of garment workers killed while making their clothes.
    About 2,500 people have been rescued from the ruins of the building, which housed several factories on the upper floors, but hundreds remain unaccounted for.
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