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| 2013 Savar building collapse | |
|---|---|
| Title | 2013 Savar building collapse |
| Caption | Rubble of the collapsed structure in Savar |
| Date | 24 April 2013 |
| Place | Savar, Dhaka District, Bangladesh |
| Cause | Structural failure, illegal construction, overloaded floors |
| Reported deaths | 1,134 |
| Reported injuries | 2,500+ |
| Convictions | Multiple arrests and trials; some convictions and sentences |
2013 Savar building collapse was a catastrophic industrial disaster that occurred on 24 April 2013 in Savar, near Dhaka in Bangladesh. The eight-story commercial building, housing textile factories, a boutique, and other businesses, failed catastrophically, killing over a thousand workers and injuring thousands more; the event provoked global attention from United Nations, international media such as the BBC, The New York Times, and transnational apparel corporations including Primark, Matalan, and H&M. The collapse prompted investigations by Bangladeshi authorities including the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and involvement from labor organizations such as the Bangladesh Trade Union Centre and international advocacy groups like Clean Clothes Campaign and Human Rights Watch.
The building, known as Rana Plaza, was constructed in 2006 and had undergone modifications and additions that local engineers later described as unsafe; the structure housed garment factories supplying brands including Benetton, Mango, Zara, Mossimo, and Joe Fresh. The property owner, an industrialist implicated in later legal actions, had ties to local political networks including members of the Awami League and interactions with municipal entities such as the Savar Upazila Parishad and Dhaka District administration. Prior warnings included visible cracks and a partial evacuation the day before after reports to the Bangladesh National Building Code inspectors; factory managers reportedly pressured workers, many represented by the National Garment Workers Federation and Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation, to return despite hazards, raising concerns highlighted by labor researchers at University of Dhaka and international scholars affiliated with Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley.
On 24 April 2013 the building collapsed, prompting immediate response from the Bangladesh Armed Forces, Border Guard Bangladesh, and local Savar Fire Service and Civil Defence teams; international search-and-rescue assistance was offered by countries including India, United States, China, Japan, and Italy. Coordinated operations involved the Bangladesh Navy and volunteer networks such as student groups from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and medical teams from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University; international NGOs including Médecins Sans Frontières and International Committee of the Red Cross assisted with triage and logistical support. Urban search specialists used heavy equipment alongside manual extraction organized by local leaders, while global news organizations like Al Jazeera, CNN, and The Guardian reported live, prompting diplomatic attention from foreign ministries including those of United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
The official death toll exceeded 1,100, with over 2,500 injured; hospital capacity in institutions such as Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital was overwhelmed, requiring transfers and international medical evacuation offers from India and Thailand. The catastrophe severely affected Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry—a major export sector working with corporations such as Walmart, Gap Inc., Primark, and PVH Corp.—prompting supply-chain disruptions and buyer audits by entities like the International Labour Organization and International Finance Corporation. Labor rights organizations including Clean Clothes Campaign, Solidarity Center, and Asia Floor Wage Alliance documented violations of safety standards and worker protections, connecting the disaster to previous incidents such as the 2012 Tazreen Fashions fire.
Investigations were conducted by the Bangladesh Police, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and judicial commissions appointed by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; prosecutors filed charges against the building owner, contractors, engineers, and factory owners. Trials involved allegations under the Bangladesh Penal Code and building regulation statutes; convictions and sentences included prison terms and fines for several defendants, while some cases were appealed to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. International scrutiny included inquiries by corporate compliance teams from brands and audits by organizations such as Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety; trade partners and foreign governments, including representatives from European Union delegations and United States Department of Labor, called for accountability.
Immediate relief was provided by the Government of Bangladesh through the Ministry of Labour and Employment and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, supported by local charities like BRAC and Grameen Bank; international humanitarian assistance came from United Nations Development Programme, International Rescue Committee, and bilateral aid missions from Japan International Cooperation Agency and United States Agency for International Development. Compensation schemes were negotiated involving brands, factory owners, and global advocacy groups, with funds channeled through bodies such as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and independent compensation panels managed with input from ILO and trade unions like the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies.
After the collapse, binding and non-binding initiatives altered the apparel sector: the legally binding Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh—signed by European brands and unions—implemented inspections and remediation; the US-led Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety represented North American brands with safety programs. National regulatory reforms included revisions to the Bangladesh Labour Act, enforcement by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), and building code reviews at institutions like the Savar Municipality. International buyers instituted stricter supply chain audits, corrective action plans from corporate compliance departments at H&M, Inditex, and Primark, and increased collaboration with NGOs and academic centers such as the Solidarity Center and Cornell University for worker training.
The disaster reshaped global discourse on industrial safety, corporate responsibility, and labor rights, influencing policy debates at the United Nations General Assembly and the International Labour Organization. Memorials include monuments in Savar and annual commemorations organized by trade unions such as the Bangladesh Garment Workers' Unity Council and civil society groups including Ain O Salish Kendra and Prothom Alo media initiatives. The event remains a reference point in corporate social responsibility curricula at universities like London School of Economics and in investigative reporting by outlets including ProPublica, The Guardian, and The New York Times.
Category:2013 disasters in Bangladesh Category:Industrial disasters Category:Building collapses