In Bangladesh, several hundred people commemorated the victims of the terrible collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex ten years ago. They laid wreaths of flowers at the site of the accident near the capital Dhaka on Monday. More than 1100 people died in the disaster on April 24, 2013. The factories in the complex produced clothing for Western fashion companies. Bangladesh is the second largest clothing producer in the world after China.
Almost 2,500 workers survived the accident, including Shila Begum: “I feel dead because I can’t earn any money since the building fell on me and I have to lead an inhuman life,” she said. She and around 30 of the survivors demanded on Monday lifelong compensation for medical treatment that became necessary as a result of the collapse.
Meanwhile, National Garments Workers Federation president Aminul Haque Amin called for the owner of the collapsed building to be held accountable. Amin also called for a significantly higher minimum wage for women textile workers. It is currently 8,000 taka (68 euros) per month. (dpa)