Savar building collapse

Savar building collapse
Name	Savar building collapse
Date	24 April 2013
Location	Savar, Dhaka District, Bangladesh
Type	Building collapse
Reported deaths	1,134–1,135
Reported injuries	~2,500
Verdict	Criminal charges, fines, convictions

Savar building collapse was a catastrophic structural failure that occurred on 24 April 2013 at the eight-storey commercial building Rana Plaza in Savar, Dhaka District, Bangladesh. The collapse killed over a thousand people and injured thousands more, becoming one of the deadliest structural failures in modern history and triggering international attention involving United Nations, International Labour Organization, European Union, and global apparel brands.

Background

Rana Plaza housed garment factories supplying multinational companies such as Benetton, Primark, Matalan, Zara, Mango, and Joe Fresh. The building sat near infrastructure elements like the Dhaka–Aricha Highway and industrial zones including Ashulia. The developer, Sohel Rana, had converted ground-floor retail spaces and basement garages into factory and workshop areas, drawing scrutiny similar to past disasters such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the Kader Toy Factory fire. Prior incidents in Bangladesh garment industry history involved actors like the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and policy frameworks influenced by World Trade Organization rules and bilateral trade arrangements with United States and European Union markets.

Collapse and Immediate Aftermath

On the morning of 24 April 2013, tenants reported visible cracks; building users included factories for Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh signatories and non-signatories. Despite warnings from local authorities and directives involving Savar Police Station and municipal officials from Savar Upazila Parishad, many workers were ordered to attend shifts to meet purchase orders from retailers including Lidl, H&M, Gap Inc., and Walmart. The collapse invoked emergency responses coordinated by entities such as Bangladesh Armed Forces, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, International Committee of the Red Cross, and foreign search-and-rescue teams from India, Pakistan, and China.

Casualties and Humanitarian Response

Death toll estimates varied between agencies including Bangladesh Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, and humanitarian NGOs like Oxfam and Amnesty International. Hospitals such as Savar General Hospital and Dhaka Medical College and Hospital received mass casualties, requiring blood donations coordinated by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and clinics supported by Médecins Sans Frontières. International relief funding involved contributions from United States Agency for International Development and European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office, while labor organizations including Clean Clothes Campaign and Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation mobilized survivor support.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

Criminal investigations led by Bangladesh Police and judicial inquiries by courts including the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge resulted in arrests of the building owner Sohel Rana and structural professionals. Legal action included charges under sections of Bangladesh penal codes and building regulations enforced by Dhaka City Corporation and the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments. Civil litigation and compensation schemes involved multinational buyers, trade unions such as Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress, and international accords like the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and the rival Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. Trials, appeals, and verdicts engaged institutions such as the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and international labor law advocates.

Causes and Safety Failures

Investigations identified structural deficiencies linked to unapproved design changes, use of substandard concrete, and additional floors added without authorization—issues comparable to failures studied by American Society of Civil Engineers and standards from British Standards Institution and American Concrete Institute. Corruption and regulatory failures implicated local engineers, inspectors, and municipal officials, echoing patterns examined by Transparency International and policy analysts at World Bank and International Labour Organization reports on occupational safety. Supply chain pressures from retailers including Primark, H&M, and Walmart exacerbated unsafe practices highlighted in comparative studies with disasters like the Bhopal disaster in terms of corporate liability debates.

Rescue, Recovery, and Rehabilitation Efforts

Rescue operations involved trained urban search-and-rescue teams from countries such as India, China, Japan, and United Kingdom, while NGOs like BRAC and Prothom Alo Trust assisted in survivor identification and psychosocial support coordinated with the Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission. Forensic work included collaboration with international experts from Interpol and academic institutions like University of Dhaka. Long-term rehabilitation efforts engaged vocational programs by ILO, compensation funds negotiated with multinational retailers, and memorial projects supported by civil society groups including Aman Foundation.

Impact and Reforms on Building Safety and Labor Rights

The disaster precipitated reforms in workplace safety and global supply chain accountability, accelerating initiatives such as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, and prompting corporate social responsibility changes among brands like H&M, Gap Inc., and Primark. Legislative and institutional reforms saw strengthening of inspection regimes under the Ministry of Labour and Employment (Bangladesh) and enhanced factory certifications influenced by ISO standards. International advocacy by groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and trade unions led to renewed focus on collective bargaining, living wage campaigns promoted by Clean Clothes Campaign and structural engineering guidance from bodies like Institution of Structural Engineers. The collapse remains a pivotal event in debates involving multinational corporations, international law, transnational labor movements, and urban planning reforms.

Category:Building collapses Category:2013 disasters in Bangladesh