Bangladesh institute of Labor Studies BILS · Email: [email protected], Web: BILS Support Center D-28/1 Talbag, Savar, Dhaka . 2 “About 4000 family were victimized by this incident,

Report on 26 April 2013 to 28 Februray 2014

Bangladesh institute of Labor Studies – BILS House no. 20, Road no. 11(New), 32 (Old), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka- 1209

Tel: 9143236, 9120015, 9126145; Fax: 8114820

Email: [email protected], Web: www.bils-bd.org

BILS Support Center D-28/1 Talbag, Savar, Dhaka

http://www.bils-bd.org/

2

“About 4000 family were victimized by this incident, among them some lose

their only earning member, some lose husband/wife, some lose son/ daughter,

again some people won‟t get their relatives‟ dead body. Among them who alive

are bear deadly pain and bad dream. Everyday about 2500 injured workers are

gathering in different hospitals and treatment centers for treatment. Some of

them needs long term treatment. To provide treatment and support BILS start

„BILS Support Center‟ at Savar with its limited capability. But it is limited as

necessity. For their soundness of body and back to work they need proper

treatment and necessary support. In this circumstance, it is the humanitarian

duty and responsibility of the capable peoples of the society to stand aside

them” - BILS

3

BILS Intervention for the victims ofRana Plaza: at a Glance

Rana Plaza

Collapsed

Death: 1135

Missing: 379

Rescued Alive: 2438

BILS

Intervention

Rescue Operation

Support Activates

BILS Information and

Support Camp

Phase I: 26 April – 30 April

Beside Enam Medical Collage Hospital

Phase II: 06 May – 13 May

Adhor Chandra High School

Health Camp Date: 7th to 19th May, 2013

In front of Modern Plaza, Savar

Beside the Victims Support Victims at Different Hospitals

BILS Facilitate

ILO- Dhaka Office Staffs, Sajeda Foundation,

GonosasthoNogar Hospital, some German

friends, ITUC-BC, IndustriALL, etc.

BILS Support Center

Location:Talbagh, Savar, Dhaka

Follow up Treatment

Provide Medicine and Diagnosis

Physiotherapy

Psychotherapy

Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza Victims

Other Humanitarian Services

Support for Pregnant Victim

Legal Assistance

4

Executive Summary

Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies – BILS is a research, training and education center on

labor issues, established in 1995. It is working to enhance the capacity of workers by

conducting training, study and campaign on their right, freedom and equity at workplace

since its establishment. To achieve its objectives it conducts different research and study,

Communication and exchange of information, Bulletin, Half-yearly Journal, Legal assistance

service, OHS service, organizing the unorganized, and Empowerment of women in trade

union. After Rana Plaza collapse it stands beside the victims with its support in association

with different individuals and organizations. From April 2013 to February 2014 it has

conducted different interventions to reduce the pain of the victims. The report is containing

seven chapters which describe the events what were done for the victims.

Chapter 1 is introductory chapter which contains short description on Bangladesh Institute of

Labor Studies – BILS. Bangladesh Inastitute of Labor Studies – BILS is a leading research,

training, education and program development center in Bangladesh on labor related issues.

Since its establishment (1995) it is working to develop a prosperous democratic society in

Bangladesh which will be free from any kinds of discrimination and exploitation where

workers would treat as a commodity but the respectable partner of progress. By supporting its

development partners it is working to enlarge the capacity of Trade Union Movement in

Bangladesh that will help to increase the production.

To fulfill its detail objectives it is doing the subsequent activities: Research, Communication

and Exchange of Information, Formulation of projects for implementation, Legal Assistance

Service, Organizing forums for exchange of ideas, meetings, exhibition, seminars,

symposiums, workshops, study circle, rally, round table, campaign etc, Publicity, publication

and printing, Producing and demonstrating educational short films, videos and slides,

Catalyst role playing in the Tripartite Mechanism between Government, Employers and

Employees, OHS service, Organizing unorganized, Empowerment of women in trade union.

Chapter 2 is overall description of the fact. Rana Plaza, an eight storey building collapsed at

24th April, 2013 which was built in 2007 beside Dhaka – Aricha near Savar Bazar Bus

Station. 1st and 2nd floors of building were shopping mall. A branch of Brac Bank was also

there. From 3rd to 8th floors of the building had five Ready Made Garment Factories,

Arround 4000 people were working there. At 8:50AM of 24 April, 2013 it collapsed. In that

deadly incident there were 1134 workers died and more 379 workers missing. Rescue team

5

could save 2438 lives. Rescue team was consisting of Bangladesh Army, Police, Fire

Department, RAB and Community Volunteers. Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies has

conducted a demographic study to find out the fact of Rana Plaza. Study found that most of

the workers were between 19 to 28 years age group. The highest numbers of injured workers

were found from New Web Style (40.4%) and highest dead body found from New Web

Bottom and Phantom Apparels. Among the missing workers 72% were female. The

dependency burden of Rana Plaza victims is 1:4.3 on an average where highest ration is 1:8

and lowest ratio is 1:1.5. About 1600 workers were in need of treatment. Around 20% of

them had general type of injury, 13% had wrist injury, and about 12% had head injury, 10.4%

suffered by fixator, and 8% of the traumatized psychologically. It was estimated that about

35% of the victims did not know when they would be cure and around 36% also didn‟t know

the tentative date to back to their work. Almost 7% victim will need more than 8 month‟s

treatment constant treatment. Till now a greater number of injured workers cannot back to

their work.

Chapter 3 shows BILS intervention for the victims. Since the building collapse, BILS staffs

and volunteers have been working relentlessly to support the victims by arranging Support

and Information Camp beside Enam Medical Collage Hospital and in the field of Adhor

Chandra High School. By these camps BILS could able to support near about three thousand

victims and their families by providing food, cloth, drink, medicine and some financial aid.

To reduce their pain it also arranges Health Camp in front of Modern Plaza and Garments

Federation Office, Savar. BILS also provide food, cloth, and medicine in different hospitals

and clinics at Savar and Dhaka. The victims were running here and there for treatment and

other support. To provide them proper treatment and medicine BILS also setup a Support and

Information Center at Savar adjacent of the wreckage.

The Center provides treatment, different types of humanitarian and legal aid for the victims.

The core programs of the Center are Follow up Treatment, Providing Medicine and

Diagnosis, Physiotherapy, Psychotherapy, Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza Victims,

Other Humanitarian Services, Legal aid and Support for pregnant victims. April 2013 to

February 2014, 2073 patients have taken treatment where 1233 received follow up treatment

and 840 received individual treatment from this Center.These patients also received necessary

medicine and diagnosis from it. Under the supervision of two expert Physiotherapists they

provided Physiotherapy to the victims. From June 2013 to February 2014, 1965 times

Physiotheraphy for 225 victims through BILS Support Center where male 72 and Female

6

153. With the close association of National Mental Health Institute it provides Psychotherapy

for 230 mentally imbalanced victims. To rehabilitate the victims it arranges Physiotherapy

Training. At present 10 victims is taking physiotherapy training from thecenter. Along with

these, this center alsoprovides some humanitarian services like providing Treatment

Equipment, giving information about different type of support providing by different

government and non government organizations, DNA matching information, distribute worm

cloth among the victims etc.

It also has started new form of intervention for the pregnant victims. Under this program

BILS provide support for 28 pregnant victims. They got following support and services from

BILS Support and Information Center; the support covered all expenditure for pre-natal

medical treatment, diagnosis and medicine facilities, Provide Supplementary foods (During

pregnancy after Registration with BILS and post-natal 4 months), all expenditure for

treatment facility during delivery and some financial aid for their family. In association of

Ain O ShalishKendro it provides legal assistance for the victims. BILS also participates in

RAna Plaza Coordination Committee on compensation and rehabilitation process facilitated

by ILO. It is a unique and multi-stakeholder coordination committee.

Chapter 4 Is describing the BILS facilitation in mobilizing local Trade Unions. BILS

established to develop a prosperous democratic society in Bangladesh which will be free

from any kinds of discrimination and exploitation and where equal rights and opportunities

will be ensured for all people in respect of fulfilling their basic needs like food, shelter,

education, medical care, social security, rule of law, peace and progressive socio-cultural

environment where workers will not be treated as a commodity but the respectable partner of

progress. After collapsed the building BILS has started the support program in association of

local treade union which are affiliated with SKOP and local volunteers. BILS also facilitate

to mobilize the local trade union leaders and activists. Some International frinds of BILS and

development partners also meet with them and share their experience for developing

capacity.

BILS arranged a workshop titled New Media and ICT Workshop for strengthening the

Trade Union Movement in Bangladesh’ in BILS Seminar Hall at 23 November 2013. The

workshop was aimed to strengthen the capacities of the Trade Union movement by increasing

„Digital Literacy‟, empowering workers at the grassroots levels to gain visibility and hear

ability in order to strengthen workers‟ solidarity and welfare and developing an ICT based

innovative Social Networking platform to empower workers in search for Decent Jobs. To

7

built capacity of workers and Trade Unions another Capacity Building Programme under

ILO-FPRW Project was arranged titled „Capacity Building Training Workshops for RMG

TU Organizers’. The main objectives of the workshop were to build a pool of Trade Union

Organizers in Ready Made Garments Industry, Provide necessary orientation to the TU

organizers on workplace safety with special focus on fire safety and their role to ensure it and

Developing better understanding among the organizers to work as a team in a united forum

and enable them to prepare a plan for collective action.

Chapter 5is describing BILS linkages with different national and international individuals

and organizations.Since its establishment it is working to develop the condition of the

workers having a good linkage of different national and international individuals and

organizations. During the the supportive interventions of BILS for the Rana Plaza victims

they stand with the organization beside the victims. BILS has good linkages with

ManusherJonno Foundation, LOF/TF Council, ITUC/BC, BILS Advisory and Executive

Council, IndustriALL, ILO Staff Union Committee, ILO HQ & Turin Centre, Some German

Friends, Bangladesh Australia Disaster Relief Committee (BADRC),

SramikKormochariOikyoParishad (SKOP), Local Trade Unions of SKOP Affiliates, and

some other National and International Humanitarian Individuals and Organizations. BILS

also has a good coordination with Ain O ShalishKendro, Enam Medical Collage and

Hospital, and GonosahthoNogor Hospital. Some other humanitarial individuals also worked

with BILS to support the victims.

Chapter 6 illustrates media engagement of BILS. BILS has a good engagement in National

and International printed and electronic media on labor issues. It publishes newsletter and

journals (named; Labor and Sromik) regularly. On Rana Plaza issue BILS has good

engagement with both Printed and Electronic Medias such as; The Daily ProthomAlo, The

Daily Star, The Daily Somokal, and some local newspapers, ETV, TVS an Australian TV

channel, BBC, CNN etc. The reporters, Producers and their team frequently visit BILS

Support Center to prepare report, produce documentary and collecting case studies. BILS‟s

media engagement has broden the the aid for the victims frome international humanitarian

community.

Chapter 7 is concluding chapter of the report. Supporting the victims is not only a civil

responsibility or government. A balanced coordination of Government and Civil Society can

hinder this type of problem.

8

Table of Content

BILS Intervention for the victims of Rana Plaza: at a Glance ........................................03

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................04

Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................10

Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies – BILS, beside the workers ....................10

Chapter 2: Rana Plaza, asymbol of extreme violation of Law and Humanity and

arrogance of profiteer ........................................................................................13

2.1. The fact .........................................................................................................13

2.1.1. Collapsed and Rescue Operation .........................................................14

2.2. Demographic Status of Rana Plaza Collapse ................................................15

Chapter 3: BIL Supporting the Victims ............................................................................21

3.1. BILS Support and Information Camp ..........................................................22

3.1.1. Phase I: Beside the Victims ................................................................22

3.1.2. Phase II: Beside the bewildered relatives ............................................22

3.2. Health Camp: To shrink the pain, beside the injured ...................................23

3.3. BILS, beside the bed of Victims at different hospitals ................................24

3.4. BILS Support and Information Center: A sort of relief ...............................24

3.4.1. Follow-up Treatment: Service for the helpless ....................................25

Case study - 1 (Follow up Treatment) ...............................................27

3.4.2. Providing Medicine and Diagnosis .....................................................27

3.4.3. Physiotherapy: aims to back to work ...................................................28

Case study - 2 (Physiotherapy) ..........................................................29

3.4.4. Psychotherapy: beside the Mentally Imbalanced .................................29

Case Study - 3 (Psychological Treatment).........................................30

3.4.5. Other Humanitarian Services ..............................................................30

3.4.6. Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza Victims .................................31

3.5. Support for Pregnant Victim: a new hope for the helpless ...........................31

Case study – 4 (Pregnancy Support Program) ...................................32



Case study - 7 (Pregnancy Support Program) ....................................33

3.6. Legal Assistance ...........................................................................................34

9

3.7. BILS participation in Rana Plaza Coordination committee on compensation &

rehabilitation process (facilitated by ILO) ..................................................35

3.8. SramikNirapotta Forum on Rana Plaza victim worker .................................36

Chapter 4: BILS facilitation in mobilizing local Trade Unions .......................................37

4.1. Workshop to Strengthen TU Movement in Bangladesh ...............................38

4.2. Capacity Building Training for RMG TU Organizer ...................................39

Chapter 5: BILS linkages with national and international individuals / organizations 41

Chapter 6: Media engagement ...........................................................................................46

Chapter 7: Conclusion and Remarks ..................................................................................48

Appendix I: List of Pregnant victims who were getting support from BILS Support

Center under Pregnant Support Program ..................................................50

10

Chapter 1

Introduction Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies – BILS, beside the workers

Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies-BILS is a research, training and education centre on

labor issues that deals with advancing opportunities for working people through their capacity

development in a way to conduct training, study, campaign etc in conditions of their rights,

freedom, equity, security and human dignity at workplace. Through the capacity building of

its associated trade unions BILS helps them to play positive role toward the economic

development of Bangladesh. BILS was established in 1995 on 2nd November as an institute

of the working people. It was initiated and established by the eminent labor leaders of our

country, and almost all the major national trade union federations were actively involved in

its initiation. BILS always try to make trade union activists and working people more capable

and conscious in facing the challenges of globalisation and achieving their rights of social

safety, secured and decent work place, occupational health and safety, trade union rights,

equal pay for equal work, gender equality and other rights.

Vision, Mission and objectives:

Vision: BILS, established by the labor movement, shall contribute to develop Bangladesh to

be a prosperous democratic society, which will be free from discrimination and exploitation

of all kinds and where equal rights and opportunities will be ensured for all people in respect

Chapter Summary: Bangladesh Inastitute of Labor Studies – BILS is a leading research, training,

education and program development center in Bangladesh on labor related issues. Since its

establishment (1995) it is working to develop a prosperous democratic society in Bangladesh which

will be free from any kinds of discrimination and exploitation where workers would treat as a

commodity but the respectable partner of progress. By supporting its development partners it is

working to enlarge the capacity of Trade Union Movement in Bangladesh that will help to increase

the production.

To fulfill its detail objectives it is doing the subsequent activities:Research, Communication and

Exchange of Information, Formulation of projects for implementation, Legal Assistance Service,

Organizing forums for exchange of ideas, meetings, exhibition, seminars, symposiums, workshops,

study circle, rally, round table, campaign etc, Publicity, publication and printing, Producing and

demonstrating educational short films, videos and slides, Catalyst role playing in the Tripartite

Mechanism between Government, Employers and Employees, OHS service, Organizing

unorganized, Empowerment of women in trade union.

11

of fulfilling their basic needs like food, shelter, education, medical care, social security, rule

of law, peace and progressive socio-cultural environment.. Workers should not be treated as a

commodity but the respectable partner of progress.

The mission of BILS is to co-operate the Trade Union movement in Bangladesh to grow like

a social partner and as vanguard for democratic development and common prosperity.

Forthcoming days are challenging and yet prosperous. The TU movement has always and

shall in future too, have to overcome the challenges and embrace the prosperity. It is only a

united, strong, capable, effective and responsible TU movement, which can accomplish the

task. The BILS mission is to co-operate the TU Movement in Bangladesh to grow like that. It

is only way to improve the capacity of the National Trade Union Movement to put into

effects in an organised and effective way, the real desire of the workers at large, who have

learnt from their experience the necessity of unity, knowledge and skill. This is what the

BILS wants to do as an institute of the working people.

Objectives:

To strengthen the capacity of the trade union movement to become recognised as an

active partner in the social dialogue regarding the development process of

Bangladesh.

To contribute in the effective participation and functioning of the TU movement in

the tripartite mechanism.

To contribute for greater unity in labor movement and encourage organising more

workers in Trade Unions.

To contribute in the strengthening of the democratic process of Trade Unions and

their ability to improve services to their members.

To contribute in the process of establishing an exploitation free society by ensuring

workers' fair share of the national wealth and development, ensuring equality and the

integration of women in the mainstream TU at all levels, elimination of child labor,

ensure safe workplaces and to introduce a social safety net.

To contribute to the generation of ideas, the formulation of policies and the

undertaking of effective programs by the TU movement.

To contribute in the strengthening of regional and international solidarity and

networking of the working people.

12

To ensure the ability and skill of the TU movement to render services, and the

capacity to address the priorities of the members.

To enhance the ability of the TU movement to recruit more members and gain more

practical strength to combat challenges.

To generate resources required for the sustainability of BILS.

Activities

To fulfill its objectives BILS is doing the following activities:

Research

Communication and exchange of information

Formulation of projects for implementation.

Legal assistance service.

Organizing forums for exchange of ideas, meetings, exhibition, seminars,

symposiums, workshops, study circle, rally, round table, campaign etc.

Publicity, publication and printing.

Producing and demonstrating educational short films, videos and slides

Catalyst role playing in the Tripartite Mechanism between Government, Employers

and Employees

OHS service

Organizingunorganized

Empowerment of women in trade union

13

Chapter 2

Rana Plaza: A symbol of extreme violation of Law and Humanity and arrogance of profiteer

2.1. The fact

Rana Plaza was built in 2007 was an eight

storey building situated beside Dhaka-Aricha

high way near Savar Bazar Bus Station. Its

first two floors were shopping mall.

Wherethere were about 300 shopsand about

500 people were working there. A local

branch office of Brac Bank was in 2nd

floor

of the building which had 11 staffs and

officers. It also had an underground parking area and construction works was going on above

8th

floor. There were five Garments Factories in top six floors of it (3dr to 8th

) named New

Web Bottom, Phantom Appeals, Phantom Tex, Ether Tex, New Web Style,Based on different

information; There were around 4000 workers worked there, most of them were woman.

Picture 1: After collapsed Rana Plaza at Savar

Chapter Summary: Rana Plaza, an eight storey building collapsed at 24th

April, 2013 which was

built in 2007 beside Dhaka – Aricha near Savar Bazar Bus Station. 1st and 2

nd floors of building

were shopping mall. A branch of Brac Bank was also there. From 3rd

to 8th

floors of the building

had five Ready Made Garment Factories.Arround 4000 people were working there. At 8:50AM of

24 April, 2013 it collapsed. In that deadly incident there were 1135 workers died and more 379

workers missing. Rescue team could save 2438 lives. Rescue team was consisting of Bangladesh

Army, Police, Fire Department, RAB and Community Volunteers. Bangladesh Institute of Labor

Studies has conducted a demographic study to find out the fact of Rana Plaza. Study found that

most of the workers were between 19 to 28 years age group. The highest numbers of injured

workers were found from New Web Style (40.4%) and highest dead body found from New Web

Bottom and Phantom Apparels. Among the missing workers 72% were female. The dependency

burden of Rana Plaza victims is 1:4.3 on an average where highest ration is 1:8 and lowest ratio is

1:1.5. About 1600 workers were in need of treatment. Around 20% of them had general type of

injury, 13% had wrist injury, and about 12% had head injury, 10.4% suffered by fixator, and 8% of

the traumatized psychologically. It was estimated that about 35% of the victims did not know when

they would be cure and around 36% also didn‟t know the tentative date to back to their work.

Almost 7% victim will need more than 8 month‟s treatment constant treatment. Till now a greater

number of injured workers cannot back to their work.

14

Table 1:Fact File of Rana Plaza

Building Description 8 Storey Building

Location 20 kilometers northeast from the country‟s capital Dhaka, Near

Savar bus stand beside the Dhaka-Aricha highway.

Car Parking Under Ground (Capacity 30 Cars)

Shopping Mall 1st& 2

nd Floor

RMG Factory 3rd

to 8th

Floor

Branch of a Brac Bank 2nd

Floor

Construction going on 9th

Floor

Approval for Five Floor Savar Municipality (2007; they are locally permitted from RAJUK

to give the approval)

Approval for more Three

Floor on the top of five

Savar Municipality (2011)

Approval Given by Local Municipal Mayor

Floor Description

1st& 2

nd Floor 600 (300×2) Shops the Floors; Source: a Shop Owner of Rana

Plaza

3rd

to 8th

Floor 400 Machine in each floor

Manpower

Shopping Mall 500

Brac Bank 11 (Bank was closed on the day of collapsed)

Factory Manpower 3950 to 4000 (about 650 on each floor); Source: Injured PM of 4th

Floor.

Other Personnel Marketing Representative of Different Company (Nestle, Marks, 6

Construction Workers; working on the top or the building) Factory Description

Factory Name Reg. No

New Web Bottom Ltd (3dr Floor)

Phantom Apparels Ltd (4th

Floor)

Phantom Tac Ltd (5th

Floor)

Ethertex Ltd (6th

Floor)

New Web Style Ltd (7th

8th

Floor)

4579 1896

4633

4854

3679

2.1.1. Collapsed and Rescue Operation

It is shocking news for all that this eight storey building was completely pancake collapsed

on underground at 8.50 AM at 24th

April 2013. This misshapenis the symbol of extreme

violation of human right and arrogance of profiteer. Whereas some scrapeswere appeared in

the different floor of that building at 23th

April, 2013. But the factory owners did not close

their factories. Several workers who were rescued reported that factory authority promised

them to provide two month salary in advance and some other provided information that

factory authority warned the worker for not paying any salary of this moth if they don‟t join

15

in their duty. But the private bank (Brac) branch had been closed since apprehending

imminent collapse of the building.

After collapsed the building local common people aggregated themselves to rescue the

victims. Than other organizations werereach there to salvage the victims. The rescue

operation was operated in accordance with Bangladesh Army, Fire Brigade Bangladesh,

Bangladesh Police and some other Government and Non Government

organizations.According to BILS statistics (created from different dependable sources), In

that 20 days long rescue operation they succeed to save 2438 workers alivewith different type

of injure and 1116 dead bodies, more 16 expired in different hospitals while under treatment.

Table 2 : Short Statistics of rescue operation and DNA sample Total

Rescued alive (a) 2438 3553

(a+b) Rescued alive but dead in hospital 19

1134 (i) Found dead bodies (b) 1115

Hand over to relatives x) From field and hospital 783

836 (j) y) From morgue 53

Burial at Jurain graveyard 293

Unidentified dead bodies 293

Source: DC Office Dhaka Zila

Missing individuals

c. Chief Inspector of Factories and Establishment (submitted to the High Court

Division)

379

General Dairy at local Thana for missing person (Savar Thana) 88

Source: Officer in Charge, Savar Model Thana

DNA Sample Stored at National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory (NFDPL)

d. DNA of Dead body (DNA Sample: Bone, Teeth, Tissue etc.

293

e. DNA samples of relatives of missing persons

513

f. DNA sample matching found 157 Source: NFDPL

Picture 2: Photo of missing persons glued at Adhor

Chandra Hogh School wall.

Picture 3: Photo of Shahana, the last discovered alive

workerunder the debris after 17 days of the incident.

16

In that terrible incident 1131 innocent people had to give up life for the greediness of the

factories and building owners. About 1600 workers were taking treatment in different

hospitals and clinics. In that misshapen about 200 workers paralyze permanently and more

300 lose their working capability.Chief Inspector of Factories and Establishment has reported

to High Court Division that 379 people are missing but rescue team revealed 293 unidentified

dead bodies under the debris of the building. More than five hundred DNA samples of

relative of the missing individuals were collected to identify the dead bodies. Till December

2013 only 157 dead bodies could be identified. All the unidentified dead bodies were buried

at Jurain graveyard.

2.2. Demographic Status of Rana Plaza Collapse

Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies – BILS had done a study titled „Demographic Study of

Building Collapsed at RMG Sectors: An Analysis of Rana Plaza Tragedy‟ in July, 2013

among the victims of Rana Plaza. The main objectives of that study were to find out the

situation of the wounded worker of Rana Plaza, finding out the necessity of safety assistance

for the victim, estimating the time to be cure and back to work of the victim and creating a

database of the wounded workers of Rana Plaza. That study was covered 17% of victims who

were taking treatment in different hospitals, clinics at Savarand Dhaka. Missing and

identified dead bodies of the workers were also in consideration to conduct some extra

analysis. That study was conducted by using Telephonic Survey and Face to face interview.

A phone call was made randomly to the victims‟ mobile number and collect data in a matrix

questionnaire and face to face interview was done at BILS Support and Information Center,

Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Enam Medical College and Hospital, Centre for the

Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP), Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and NITOR. Brief

findings of that study are as bellow by graphical representation:

Age of the workers:

30

.6%

10

.5%

19

.7%

20

.9%

8.7

%

4.9

%

2.2

%

1.0

%

1.1

%

0.1

%

0.2

%

23

.5%

15

.4%

26

.4%

19

.6%

9.6

%

3.9

%

1.0

%

0.3

%

0.0

%

0.0

%

0.3

%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

No

record

14 - 18 19 - 23 24 - 28 29 - 33 34 - 38 39 - 43 44 - 48 49 - 53 54 - 58 58 - 63

Figure 1: Age group of the Missing and Death Workers

Death Missing

17

Sex of the Workers:

Victims of different factories:

33%67%

Figure 6: Sex of the Injured WorkersMale Female

38%

62%

Figure 3: Total Victims of Rana Plaza

Male Female

28%72%

Figure 4: Sex of the Missing WorkersMale Female

44%

56%

Figure 5: Sex of the Identified Death WorkersMale Female

19

.1%

17

.3%

6.6

%

14

.3%

40

.4%

0.4

%

1.8

%

27

.3%

27

.7%

11

.3%

17

.0%

13

.5%

0.3

%

2.9

%

38

.0%

34

.1%

10

.9%

10

.5%

5.4

%

0.2

%

1.0

%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

New Web

Bottom

Pantom

Apprals

Phantom

Tex

Ether tex New Web

Style

Shopping

Mall

Other

Figure 7: Victims of different factories

Injured Missing Identified dead Body

.05.0

10.015.020.025.030.035.0

Not

Identified

14 - 18 19 - 23 24 - 28 29 - 33 34 - 38 39 - 43 44 - 48

4.4

%

11

.4%

33

.8%

30

.9%

11

.4%

4.4

%

2.6

%

1.1

%

Fre

qu

ency

Ae GroupsFigure 2: Age Group of the Injured Workers

18

Victims’ diversity at Collapsed Rana Plaza:

Dependency Burden of the Victims:

It is the common scenario at RMG workers family in Bangladesh that one has to bear 4.3

persons burden (on an average) in his/her family where highest value is 8 and lowest value is

1.5. It is calculated by following the formula:

DB =

Where DB = Dependency Burden,

TM = Total Family Members

WM = Working Family Members

In other sense Dependency Burden Ratio is 1: 4.3, where highest ratio is 1:8 and lowest ratio

is 1:1.5.

Injured workers in different factories and typology of their sufferings:

Table 3: Type of injury vs Name of the factory

Type of Injury

Name of the factory

Total New Web

Bottom

Phantom

Appeals

Phantom

Tex Ether Tex

New Web

Style

Shopping

Mall Other

f % f % f % f % f % f % f % f %

Head Injury 15 8.7 23 14.6 11 16.9 11 8.6 45 13.0 1 16.7 1 11.1 107 12.1

Fixator 17 9.9 12 7.6 7 10.8 18 14.1 35 10.1 1 16.7 2 22.2 92 10.4

Spinal Cord Injury 2 1.2 1 0.6 1 1.5 3 2.3 7 2.0 1 16.7 0 0.0 15 1.7

Injury Waist 26 15.1 20 12.7 8 12.3 19 14.8 42 12.1 0 0.0 1 11.1 116 13.1

Shoulder 12 7.0 14 8.9 3 4.6 8 6.3 21 6.1 0 0.0 0 0.0 58 6.6

RM

G P

erso

na

ls

Gen

era

l

Peo

ple

s

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%

Operator

Helper

Quality Control

Iron man

Folding Man

Cutting

Line man

Finishing

Quality Inspector

Supervisor

Electrician

Security

Cleaner

Sample Man

Cooker

Markerman

Production Manager

Floor Incharge

Rescue tam member

Salesman

Construction Worker

SR (Neslay)

Figure 8: Victims’ diversity at Collapsed Rana Plaza

Missing Death Injured

19

Eye injury 1 0.6 1 0.6 1 1.5 2 1.6 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 5 0.6

Kidney Problem 1 0.6 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.8 1 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 3 0.3

Amputation One Hand 1 0.6 1 0.6 0 0.0 3 2.3 3 0.9 0 0.0 0 0.0 8 0.9

Finger Amputation 2 1.2 2 1.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 2 0.6 0 0.0 0 0.0 6 0.7

One Leg Amputation 2 1.2 1 0.6 1 1.5 4 3.1 5 1.4 0 0.0 1 11.1 14 1.6

Back Pain 13 7.6 15 9.6 5 7.7 9 7.0 23 6.6 1 16.7 0 0.0 66 7.5

Psychological Trauma

(Bad Dream) 15 8.7 11 7.0 5 7.7 10 7.8 27 7.8 1 16.7 2 22.2 71 8.0

Boney Fracture 22 12.8 11 7.0 4 6.2 10 7.8 31 9.0 1 16.7 2 22.2 81 9.2

General Injury 31 18.0 35 22.3 13 20.0 25 19.5 75 21.7 0 0.0 0 0.0 179 20.3

Chest injury 12 7.0 10 6.4 6 9.2 5 3.9 29 8.4 0 0.0 0 0.0 62 7.0

Total 172 19.5 157 17.8 65 7.4 128 14.5 346 39.2 6 0.7 9 1.0 883 100

Time to back to Work and be Cure (till July, 2013):

Table 4: Time to back to Work and be Cure (till July, 2013)

Time to be cure Time to back to work

f % f %

Don‟t Know 96 35.3 Don‟t Know 100 36.8

Cured 38 14.0 Ready to work 26 9.6

1 month 47 17.3 1 month 41 15.1

2 to 3 months 49 18.0 2 to 3 months 52 19.1


7 to 8 months 2 .7 7 to 8 months 8 2.9


More than 2 Years 3 1.1 1 to 1.5 Years 9 3.3

Total 272 100.0 Total 272 100.0

12.1%

104%

1.7%

13.1%

6.6%

0.6%

0.3%

0.9%

0.7%

1.6%

7.5%

8.0%

9.2%

20.3%

7.0%

Head Injury

Fixator

Spinal Cord Injury

Injury Waist

Shoulder

Eye injury

Kidney Problem

Amputation One Hand

Finger Amputation

One Leg Amputtion

Back Pain

Psychological Trouma (Bad …

Boney Fracture

General Injury

Cheast injury

Figure 9: Typology of Victims Sufferings

20

Table 5: Type of injury and their time to be Cure (Till July, 2013)

Type of Injury

Time to Cure

Total Cured

1

month

2 to 3

months

4 to 6

months

7 to 8

months

9 to 12

months

More than

2 Years

Don‟t

Know

Head Injury 18 22 14 12 1 3 0 37 107

Fixator 9 11 19 3 1 6 3 40 92

Spinal Cord Injury 3 1 0 2 0 3 3 3 15

Waist 8 25 24 13 1 12 0 33 116

Shoulder 3 15 6 7 0 5 0 22 58

Eye injury 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 5

Kidney Problem 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 3

Amputation One Hand 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 7 8

Amputation Finger 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 6

Amputation One Leg 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 10 14

Back Pain 11 11 5 2 0 7 0 30 66

Psychological Trauma

(Bad Dream) 9 5 3 1 1 2 0 50 71

Boney Fracture 10 8 11 9 1 6 3 33 81

General Injury 26 38 33 15 2 10 3 52 179

Chest injury 16 9 10 7 1 2 0 17 62

Total 116 147 133 73 8 57 12 337 883

Brief findings of the study:

It is found that most of the death, missing and injured workers were between 19 and 28 years

age group. Most of the workers in Rana Plaza were female (62%) and rest 38% of the

workers were male. Among the missing workers 72% were female and rest 28% was male. It

is almost same between injured workers. On the other hand between the identified dead

workers 56% were female and 44% of them were male. The highest numbers of injured

workers were found from New Web Style (40.4%) and highest dead body found from New

Web Bottom and Phantom Apparels. Operators were mostly victimized by the misshapen at

Savar then helpers. It also a good finding that the Dependency Burden Ratio of the Rana

Plaza Victim is 1: 4.3, where highest ratio is 1:8 and lowest ratio is 1:1.5. Among the victims

around 20% of them had general type of injury, 13% had wrist injury, about 12% had head

injury, 10.4% suffered by fixator, and 8% of the traumatized psychologically. Some victims

also found with spinal cord injury, hand, leg or finger amputation and bony facture. It was

estimated that about 35% of the victims did not know when they would be cure and around

36% also didn‟t know the tentative date to back to their work. Almost 7% victim will need

more than 8 month‟s treatment constant treatment. Till now a greater number of injured

workers cannot back to their work.

21

Chapter 3

BILS, Supporting the Victims

Chapter Summary:Since the building collapse BILS staffs and volunteers have been working

relentlessly to support the victims by arranging Support and Information Camp beside Enam

Medical Collage Hospital and in the field ofAdhor Chandra High School. By these camps BILS

could able to support near about three thousand victims and their families by providing food, cloth,

drink, medicine and some financial aid. To reduce their pain it also arranges Health Camp in front

of Modern Plaza and Garments Federation Office, Savar. BILS also provide food, cloth, and

medicine in different hospitals and clinics at Savar and Dhaka. The victims were running here and

there for treatment and other support. To provide them proper treatment and medicine BILS also

setup a Support and Information Center at Savar adjacent of the wreckage.

The Center provides treatment, different types of humanitarian and legal aid for the victims. The

core programs of the Center are Follow up Treatment, Providing Medicine and Diagnosis,

Physiotherapy, Psychotherapy, Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza Victims, Other

Humanitarian Services, Legal aid and Support for pregnant victims. From April 2013 to February

2014, 2073 patients have taken treatment facility where 1233 received follow up treatment and 840

received individual treatment from this Center.These patients also received necessary medicine

and diagnosis from it. Under the supervision of two expert Physiotherapists they provided

Physiotherapy to the victims. From June 2013 to February 2014, 1965 times Physiotheraphy for

225 victims through BILS Support Center from where male were 72 and Female 153. With the

close association of National Mental Health Institute it provides Psychotherapy for 230 mentally

imbalanced victims. To rehabilitate the victims it arranges Physiotherapy Training. At present 10

victims is taking physiotherapy training from thecenter. Along with these, this center alsoprovides

some humanitarian services like providing Treatment Equipment, giving information about

different type of support providing by different government and non government organizations,

DNA matching information, distribute worm cloth among the victims etc.

It also has started new form of intervention for the pregnant victims. Under this program BILS

provide support for 28 pregnant victims. They got following support and services from BILS

Support and Information Center; the support covered all expenditure for pre-natal medical

treatment, diagnosis and medicine facilities, Provide Supplementary foods (During pregnancy after

Registration with BILS and post-natal 4 months), all expenditure for treatment facility during

delivery and some financial aid for their family.In association of Ain O ShalishKendro it provides

legal assistance for the victims. BILS also participates in RAna Plaza Coordination Committee on

compensation and rehabilitation process facilitated by ILO. It is a unique and multi-stakeholder

coordination committee.

22

Over a thousand workers were killed and injured in that tragic incident.People came from

different parts of the country to find out their relatives. Victims were admitted in different

hospitals and clinics at Savar and Dhaka. People were rushing different hospitals to detect

their relatives but it was not an easy task. That time, victims‟ information was the main

demand. Subsequently, Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies – BILS started to provide them

support and information about the victims by setting up Support and Information Camp.

3.1. BILS Support and Information Camp

That event specially was taken over to help and guide the relatives of departed, injured and

missing workers. BILS volunteers in association with the local tread union activists had run

the camp. The camp was run in two phases in two different places where people crowded

more.

3.1.1. Phase I: Beside the Victims

To support the relatives of the victims with food,

water, rest, information, guidance and others

information of the hospitals where victims were

admitted BILS had started Support and Information

Camp adjacent to EnamMedicalCollege and

Hospital from 26th

April to 30th

April, 2013. It also

collected patients‟ list from different hospitals and

clinics of Savar and Dhaka where the patients was

under treatment and announced so that patients‟

relatives could found them. We also provided

medicine, cloth, bed sheet to the victims in different hospitals and clinics. Along with local

trade union leaders about 30 BILS volunteers did their best efforts to serve about 2000 people

in that five successive days.

3.1.2. Phase II: Beside the bewildered relatives

After successfully complete the Phase I of Support and Information Camp BILS felt the

necessity of the bewildered people who were gathering at Adhor Chandra High School field

where the rescued dead bodies stored. Day after day they were waiting under the open sky to

discover their missing relatives. They were facing problem with food, shelter and pure

drinking water. Their sufferings were increasing day by day. To reduce their miserable

condition BILS had started Phase II of the Support and Information Camp at Adhor Chandra

Picture 4:BILS Information and Support Camp

(phase I) beside Enam Medical Collage

23

High School field. In that phase BILS gave some humanitarian service among the victims and

their families along with support and information. A team, consisting local trade union

members, BILS officials and volunteers, engaged 24 hour in that services from 6th

May to

13th

May, 2013. People were provided with food, medicine, some financial support from that

camp. At night people also used itas their sleeping place. BILS volunteers also worked as

rescue workers. Then the Volunteers also served as rescue worker at Rana Plaza wreckage.

From that center about 1500 victims and their family members received financial and other

type of services.

3.2. Health Camp: To shrink the pain, beside the injured

Hospitals and Clinics were in difficulties to

accommodate the victims. In that circumstance,

they discharged less seriously injured after

providing primary treatment but they were not

cured completely. This type of patients went

different hospitals and clinics with pain but they

were not considered for treatment. Some others

were not taking treatment in account of money.

Then the prime concern was their treatment. To

shrink the pain BILS stand beside them by

arranging a Health Camp from 7th to 19th May, 2013 in front of Modern Plaza and Garments

Federation Office, Savar. Free Health Check up, Follow up Treatment, Medicine, and

Diagnosis were provided to the victims from that camp. Moreover those services, the victims

were also referred to DMCH, NITOR, Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and CRP for

advance treatment. Here BILS bear all thecommunication and other operative cost. By the

hard work of the servicing team consisting with BILS officials, volunteers, local trade union

members and specialized doctors were able to provide the health service about 200 victims.

Picture 6: Bewilders Peoples are taking support and

service from BILS Support and Information Center at

Adhor Chandra High School field

Picture 7: Doctor providing treatment in the

health camp at Savar

Picture 5: Peoples are waiting for their relatives’

information at BILS Support and Information Camp

24

3.3. BILS, beside the bed of Victims at different hospitals

Having a lot of sign of injury in their body Injured and paralyzed of Rana Plaza workers are

groaning in the hospital bed. They don‟t know their future but they want to live. BILS

volunteers stood beside them with medicine, food, cloth and drink.

BILS has provided medicine, food and all necessary cost of treatment for 2 (two) victims

admitted at New Hope Clinic at Savar, food and other necessary cost for 14 patient admitted

at Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and

their attendant from the very beginning, food

for 2 patients in BIRDEM hospital for the

month of July and first two weeks of August

and food for 4 patients for one month in Japan-

Bangladesh Friendship hospital, food for 11

patients admitted in GonosasthoNogar

Hospital Dhaka. It also provided regular

support and some financial aid for rescue

worker Rafiq who was admitted in National

Mental Health Institute, Dhaka for his psychological imbalance.

Moreover these, according to doctors advice different type of victims who were not treatable

in this center like Teeth, ENT, Eye problem had referd to different government hospital. It

could be mention here that all necessary cost for these patients were carried out by the center.

3.4. BILS Support and Information Center:A sort of relief

With a hope of relief the wounded workers were running here and there. Different institutions

provided them different type of short term treatment but they need long term and contentious

treatment for complete healing. Having pain of the building collapse and joblessness workers

were in dilemma.Besides the treatment cost, money for their family support was burdening

them. After close and constant observation of BILS‟s experts, it has started a new

intervention from 26th May, 2013 bysetting up a support center named „BILS Support

Center‟ (previously known BILS KajeFeraPhysiotherapy Center was situatedKallanpur,

Dhaka) at Talbagh,Savar adjacent of Rana Plaza to provide support and contentious treatment

for the victims who were not able to take cure from different hospital. From this center BILS

had provided different type of support services to the victim and their families like;

Follow up Treatment,

Picture 8: BILS Volunteer providing cloths in Savar

Thana Heath Complex.

25

Providing Medicine and Diagnosis,

Physiotherapy,

Psychotherapy,

Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza Victims, and

Other Humanitarian Services.

All the services from this Support Center were provided freely to the Rana Plaza victims.

3.4.1. Follow-up Treatment: Service for the helpless

Under the supervision of a team of expert doctors „BILS Support Center‟ providing the

follow-up treatment every day 10:00AM to 2:00PM except government holiday for the Rana

Plaza victims andtheir family. Doctors‟ team consists of Orthopedic, Medicine, and

Gynecologist. This Center has provided treatment for a total number of 2073 workers

between May 2013 and February 2014, where 840 individual patients and 1233 follow up

patients. In June and July, 2013 the center provided high frequencies of the service. 840

Individual Patients got treatment from this center where 260 male and 580 female. On other

hand, these patient got treatment 1233 time as Follow up Patients where 265 male and 968

female.

Picture 9: Doctors was providing treatment at BILS Support Center

Picture 10: Patients are waiting

in front of doctor’s cabin at

BILS Support Center, Savar.

http://www.girlshealth.gov/body/health_help/gynecologist.cfm

26

Together with the doctors of Enam Medical Collage Hospital and Central Hospital Savar

(Orthopedic Doctor - Dr. Robin and Dr. Tusher, Medicine Doctor –Dr. Sohel, Dr. Tomal, Dr.

Panna, Dr. Diponkor,Surgery Doctor - Dr. Anup, Dr. Faysol, and GynecologistDr. Farzana,

Dr. Shahrin, Dr. Farhana) BILS officials havecarried out successfully the holy service for the

Rana Plaza victims.

May June July August September Octeber Nobember December Total

Individual Patient 67 375 240 40 40 9 24 10 805

Follow up patient 0 237 464 111 134 84 49 34 1113

Total 67 612 704 151 174 93 73 44 1918

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Freq

uen

cy

Figure 10 : Follow up Treatment


Male 22 105 63 13 14 2 4 2 225

Female 45 270 177 27 26 7 20 8 580

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Freq

uen

cy

Figure 11 : Individual Patients


Male 0 66 89 20 35 16 7 2 235

Female 0 171 375 91 99 68 42 32 878

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Freq

uen

cy

Figure 12 : Follow up Patients

27

3.4.2. Providing Medicine and Diagnosis

As on doctors prescription Rana Plaza victimes

and their family members including rescue

workers were provided every type of medicine

freely from the medicine store of the center.

Again, this center also made prescribing

diagnosis for the victims from Savar Cental

Hospital and some done from Gonoshasto Nogor

Hospital Savar. BILS officials and staffs work

hard to the voluntary job.

3.4.3. Physiotherapy: aims to back to work

Specialists suggestion that the physically injured workers would be back to their work after

giving 3 to 6 months physiotherapy properly along with the follow up treatment. To cure

them completely „BILS Support Center‟ arranges Physiotherapy under supervision of expert

physiotherapist form June 2013.Two expert physiotherapists Md.Bayezid Hossain and

Kamrunnesa Luky work relentlessly provide the service to the Rana Plaza victims, their

family members and rescue workers.

Picture 11: Victims were taking medicine at BILS

Support Center at Savar.

Casestudy - 1 (Follow up Treatment)

Name: Aysha Akter, Age: 19 Years, District: Madaripur

I am Aysha Akter (19), permanent rescident of Madaripur District, living at Talbagh, Savar, Dhaka. We have 6 members

(father- mother, 2 sisters and 2 brothers) in our family. I am second eldest among them. My father is physically ill and he

can not do any work. It was difficult to maintain our large family with little income of elder my brother. When I was

reading in class eight I have to drop out from school for scarcity and I have joined Phantom Apparel at Raza Plaza in

2010. After working their for two years I have promoted from helper to operator. In February, 2013 I have joined New

Web Style at 7th floor in the same building. Till 24th April, 2013 I was working there. I was rescued at 8.00PM in thet

day. I was deadly injured in my head, waist, hands and legs. They brought me to CMH at Savar. After primary treatment

I was reffered to Enam Medical Collage Hospital. After 3 days treatment they realeased me but I felt ill. I heared a that

BILS was providing treatment freely for Rana Plaza victims and I came to BILS Support Center. After taking follow up

treatment for two months now I am feeling good. As on my interest, BILS selectes me for the training program of

physiotherapy along with 10 other victims. At present I also working as thainee Assistant Physiotherapist at BILS

Support Center. We are learning quickly as the handson training of Bayzid Sir. BILS also pay me 3000tk per months for

my service. I am greatful to BILS. I want to get such type of work where I can utilize my learning properly.

28

There were 1965 times Physiotheraphy for 225 victims through BILS Support Center from

June, 2013 to February 2014, where male 72 and Female 153. These patients have taken 886

time follow up physiotherapy that were count as Follow up patent, where male 289 and

female 597. It deals highest number of patients in September, August and July accordingly

and provided highest frequencies of therapy July, August and September respectively. 11

physiotherapy patients were sent to GonoshahtoNogor Hospital Dhaka in July and 2 more

were sent there in September for advance treatment.

Picture 12 : Victims are taking physiotherapy from BILS Support Center Physiotherapist at Support Center at Savar.

June July August September Octeber Nobember December Total

Individual Patient 69 73 6 28 7 13 7 203

Follow up patient 0 127 259 395 39 39 12 871

Total 69 200 265 423 46 52 19 1074

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Freq

uen

cy

Figure 13: Physiotherapy Provided by BILS Support Center

June July August September Octeber Nobember December Total

Male 28 20 6 6 1 1 3 65

Female 41 53 0 22 6 12 4 138

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Freq

uen

cy

Figure 14: Individual Patients

August September Octeber Nobember December Total

Male 70 151 10 7 3 283

Female 189 244 29 32 9 588

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Freq

uen

cy

Figure 15: Follow up Patients

29

3.4.4. Psychotherapy: beside the Mentally Imbalanced

That terrible incident created a greater scratch inside

the workers‟ mind. They were driven away by

inauspicious dream. They could not even sleep. It was

more painful than physical pain. To remove these types

of mental pain and distressful memory from their

mind„BILS Support Center‟ arranged psychological

treatment in association with the expert doctors of Picture 13: Mental Health Specialist providing

mental healing to the Rana Plaza victims at BILS

Support Center at Savar.

336

665543

483

179163

64

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

June July August September Octeber Nobember December

Figure 16: Frequencies of Physiotherapy

Casestudy - 2 (Physiotherapy)

Name: Jesmin Akter, Age: 21 years, Education: Class 7, Family members: 5, District: Jessore

I am Jesmin Akter (21), permanent of Jessore district, living at Savar. I am only one sister and I have two brothers. I am

eldest among them. My father is a farmer. It was difficult to maintain our 5 members‟ family by his work. For

insufficiency I have to stop my education after reading class seven. To support my family I came to Savar with my aunt

in 2010 and joined Phentom Apparels at Rana Plaza. I could not adapt with that life and I went back home after six

months of work. But I have to come back again in that job for poverty. I have joined New Web Style at 7th floor of Rana

Plaza in May, 2012. Till the building collapse I worked there. I was rescued from the wreckage after 9 hours of collapse.

I was admitted in Enam Medical Collage. After primary treatment they referred me Cardiac Hospital, Dhaka. I was there

for 7 days. I was admitted in New Hope Clinic, Savar from May to July, 2013 and BILS beared my treatment, food and

all other necessary cost here. When I was admitted in New Hope Clinic I have also taken physiotherapy from BILS

Support Center. By this treatment I felt quite beter. They have refered me to Gonosahtho Nogor Hospital for advance

treatment. After I have taken physiotherapy for 45 day from the hospital I am better now. As on my interest, BILS

selects me for the training program of physiotherapy along with 10 other victims. At present I also working as thainee

Assistant Physiotherapist at BILS Support Center. We are learning quickly as the handson training of Bayzid Sir. BILS

also pay me 3000tk per months for my service. I am greatful to BILS. I want to get such type of work where I can utilize

my learning properly.

30

National Mental Health Institute, Dhaka. The treatmentwas provided one/two days per week.

Specialist used counseling, group counselingand step by step medication to cure them. Dr.

Niaz Mohammad Khan (a specialized doctor of National Mental Health Institute) said that to

remove their distress memory form their mind they need contentious mental healing for three

to four months. Both injured workers and mentally imbalanced rescue workers took these

treatments from here under supervision of specialist mental health doctors; Dr. AKM

Khalekuzzaman, Dr. Niaz Mohammad Khan, Dr. MM Jalaluddin.

After providing mental

healing for five successive

months (June – October)

230 victims including

injured workers and

mentally imbalanced rescue

workers could get relieve

from their mental suffering.

Most serious victims like

Rofik (a rescue worker)

were referred to National

Mental Health Institute for

advance treatment. The

center also supports them

regularly.

3.4.5. Other

Humanitarian Services

Along with above, BILS Support Center has also

provided some additional services for the victims,

victims‟ family members and rescue workers.

Treatment Equipment: It also provided 8 crutches,

2 ring cushions, 1 albo-crutch and 1 sunglass to the

victims suggesting by the doctors.

Supporting Information: Victims also gotdifferent type of

supporting information from here providingby various

Picture 15:Rana Plaza victims waiting at BILS

Support Center for different support information.

Case Study - 3 (Psychological Treatment)

Name: Shamima Akter, Age: 19 years, District: Rajbari.

I am Shamima Akter (19), permanent rescident of Rajbari dictrict, living

at Savar. I am third among my 4 brothers and 4 sisters. We have totaly 9

members in our family. My father has been paralysed for a year and he

cann‟t do anything. My eldest sister have married. My elder brother was

the earning member in our family. It was difficult to him to maintain our

large family. For this after 9 years of schooling I came to Savar and join

a garmant at Hemayetpur as helper in 2009 next I was promoted as

operator. In 2010 I joined at Holmark Group. After working there for 2

years I joined Ether Tex at Rana Plaza at the end of 2012. Till collapsed

the building I was working there. I was rescued from there at that day

after 10 hours of collapse. I was injured in my hands, eye and legs. After

primary treatment I reffered to NITOR. I was little shoked mentally.

After 20 days treatment I releaed from there. I took psychological

healing under supervition of the doctors of National Mental Health

Institute who were providing treatment at BILS Support center at Savar.

I also took some physiotherapy from here. Now I am well. Now I am

taking training on physiotherapy at BILS Support Center under the

program of Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza Victims. I wish to do

such type of work where I can use my physiotherapy knowledge.

31

Government Organization, Non-government National and International Organization.

DNA matching Information: Missing workers relatives also collect their DNA matching

information from here.As a whole it works as a co-ordination center for the Rana Plaza

victims.

Worm Cloth Distribution: The Center has distributed worm cloth among the Rana Plaza

victims and their family members. That was facilitating by Farhana, Compliance Consultant

of Least Standard an organization of German.

3.4.6. Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza Victims

To empower and rehabilitate Rana Plaza victims

BILS has started a new form of intervention named

Physiotherapy Training for Rana Plaza victims. To

empower those, BILS Support Center select 10

victims and start to provide them proper training at

the Center under the supervision of two

physiotherapist Md. Bayezid Hossain and

Kamrunnesa Luky. This program is aimed to create

qualified Assistant Physiotherapist. This course will continue till March, 2014. Among these

trainees JasminAkter and AyshaAkter also are working as Assistant Physiotherapist at BILS

Support Center.

3.5. Support for Pregnant Victim: a new hope for the helpless

About 4000 people were victimized by Rana Plaza collapsed. They led a vulnerable life in the

society. Among them some pregnant workers and wife of dead and missing workers are

leading most vulnerable life. At that period they were not only capable for working but also

lost their hope. In 26th

April a pregnant women came BILS Support and information campto

find out her husband. She has a five years daughter. She was too much shocked as she lost

her all hope. Her name is SonaBanu. BILS immediately took her all responsibility. BILS

provided her 6000tk per months for next six months. After that BILS Support Center start a

new form of intervention to support the pregnant victims of Rana Plaza. BILS officers and

volunteers were finding out the pregnant victims of Rana Plaza Collapsed (they were injured

woman workers,injured workers‟ wife and wife of dead and missing workers) and brought

them under the line of the service.They got following support and services from BILS

Support and Information Center;

All expenditure for pre-natal medical treatment, diagnosis and medicine facility.

Picture 16: A Rana Plaza victim with

her new born baby received worm cloth

for her and her baby at BILS Support

Center.

Picture 17: Physiotherapist MdBayezidHossain

showing some techniques to the trainees at BILS

Support Center.

32

Provide Supplementary foods (During pregnancy after Registration with BILS and post-

natal 4 months).

All expenditure for treatment facility during delivery, and

Some financial aid for their family.

They also got milk, sugar, biscuit, egg and noodles per month.More over these expert

gynocologist from Gonoshahto Nogar Hospital also check them regularly. Under this

program BILS provided servic for 28 pragnent women (their list is added with the report).

These women are happy now with their new born baby and they also get new hope to live.

Casestudy – 5 (Pragnancy Support Program)

Name: AlponaAkter, Age: 20, District: Sherpur

I am AlponaAkter (20). I am an inhabitant of SherpurDictrict. We have 5 sisters and 2nd of them. My father is a masson helper

and he is only one earning person in our family. He could not maintain well our six members‟ family. After five years of

schooling I had to drowp out from the school for poverty. To support him I have to comeSavar with one of my friends in 2008.

She also managed a job for me in a Garments Factory at Savar. In first quarter of 2009 I got married with Ripon Miah who

was also working in another garment at Savar. Our income was too small to maintain our family after sending money to my

father-in-law. For better opportunity I have joined New Web Style at 7th floor of Rana Plaza as assistant operator in August,

2010. After few months I have promoted as operator. Till Rana Plaza has collapsed I worked there. I was rescued from there

after 10 hours of its collapsed. Then I was six months pregnancy. I was deadly injured in my head, hands and legs. I local

clinic provided me primary treatment. As my husband‟s income was small at that time my family was in hardship. They were

not able to provide me proper treatment. I was worried about my pregnancy. At that moment I heared the news of pregnancy

support program of BILS from one of my friends. From 27th May, 2013 I have taken my treatment and regular pregnancy

check-up. They bear all of my expenditure for pre-natal medical treatment, diagnosis and medicine facility. They also

provided me supplementary foods like; milk, biscuit, eggs etc regularly and also continued for post-natal 4 months. They bear

all expenditure during delivery. In July, 2013 I have given birth a baby (boy). The sun of my new hope has raisen, I am happy

with it. I am greatful to BILS for their holy support. If the did not stand beside me, my husband could not able to bear all of

my cost.


Name:Nelufa, Age: 21, District: Naogaon

I am Nilufa (21), my home district is Naogaon I have three sisters and one brother. I am eldest among them. My father has

died few years ago. One of my younger sisters worked in garments to maintain our family. I got married with Azizul Islam

who is a rickshaw poller lives at Savar, Dhaka. Since 1996 I have been working in garment factory. I often sent smoe money

to my mother to maintain the family. After working 1 year I went back to home. In 2012 again I came at Savar and then I had

1 son and 1 daughter. I joined New Web Style at Rana Plaza in November in that year. Till 24th April I was working at that

garments factory as operator. One hour after building collapsed I have rescued. I injured in face and waist. I was admitted in a

local clinic and they realeased me after some days treatment. I was pregnant for 2 months. Now my husband is driving a rental

auto rickshaw. His income is so small that does not able to bear my treatment and other check-up cost, besides I am not able to

do any job. In the mean time I have got news about preganancy support program of BILS. I registered in the program at 31st

August, 2013. They have provided me proper treatment, regular check-up and other necessary cost during delevary. They also

provided me regular nutritious food, milk, eggs etc. Last 9th December, 2013 I have given birth a baby (son) at Enam Medical

Collage Hospital, Savar. BILS are also providing me post-natal support. I am greatful to BILS for their support. I am afraid of

to go to a new job at garment factory. If I get some support I could empower myself.


Name:SharminAkter, Age: 24, Dictrict:Noakhali

I am SharminAkter (24); I am a residence of Laxmipur Thana, Noakhali district. At present I am living at

Mojidpur, Savar. We have 6 members family. I am eldest than my one sister and three brothers. My father is a

day labor. He could not maintain our family properly. Scarcity was our daily incidents. To support my family

after seven years of schooling I went to Chittagong in 2003. I joined a garment factory as helper in Chittagong

EPZ. After working few days I was promoted as operator. In 2009 I felt in love with an operator named Ismail

of that factory and in 2011 will married each other without consent of our family. My husband‟s family

threatens us several times. At last in October, 2012 we left home and came to Savar, Dhaka. We joined a

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3.6. Legal Assistance

Different type of new problems arose when the

victims, victims‟ family or their legal guardians

had received financial aid form different

Government and Non Government

Organizations. There were more than one people

Picture 18: A Rana Plaza victim is consulting with the

lawyer at BILS Support Center, Savar.

Casestudy - 7 (Pragnency Support Program)

Name: NazmaAkter Age: 21, District: Magura

I am NazmaAkter (21), a permanent resident of Magura district, is living at Chayabethe, Savar with one of my

ralatives. I am older among my two sisters and one brother. My father has died when I was 8 years old. My

mother supports our family by working as day labor and domestic worker. Scarcity has become another

family member of us. In the mean time my mother got married with another and left us away. We wanted to

study but scarcity snatch away our dream. In 2008 I joined New Web Bottom at Rana Plaza as helper. During

my job at Raza Plaza I felt love with Jwel who also working in the factory. Jwel is also ill fated. He has no

parents. We got married at 16th

December, 2009. In 2010 I resigned from New Web Bottom. After two

months I joined another factory. In 2011 I came back to Rana Plaza and joined New Web Style at 8th

floor of

the building as operator. At 24th

April, 2013 when the building collapsed on our head then I was pragnent for

last three months. I have rescued form the debris after two hours of the collapse. But I have lost my lovely

husband their. The deadbody of him was rescued in the evening on that day. I injured deadly in my hands,

leegs and Head. I have taken treatment from a local hospital. Few days later I have heared the news of BILS

Support Center. They provided me all type of supports during my pragnency period. They also provided me

nutritious food, cloth and some financial aid in every month. Under this service I also diagonsed by expert

doctors and medicine too. All type of pre-natal, delivery and post –natal costs were beared by the

organization. In 5th

Nobember, 2013 I gave birth my baby. Without their support I could not efford all of my

expances. I am greatful to BILS. Now it is hard to me to maintain my family. I don‟t want to go back to RMG

sector‟s job.

34

(they were parents, father or mother in law, son/daughter, relatives, etc) stood to receive the

aid. All of them claimedthemselves as legal guardians of the victims. It had created dilemma

among the stakeholders. Again, it was seen that „Parent of Abu Jafor (a dead worker) has

taken every type of compensating and financial aid provided by different organization but

they did not give any taka to his pregnant wife. They also refused to accept her. In that case

who would get the compensation and monetary aid? A lot of such type of problem arose. To

confiscate thosetypes of problemsBILS Support Center has started a new form of intervention

name „Legal Assistance for Rana Plaza Victims‟ in association with Ain O ShalishKendro.

From 22th

September, 2013 this intervention has started. It is a combining approach of BILS

and Ain O ShalishKendro.A staff lawyer of Ain O ShalishKendre named Adv. Afroza Islam

with a field facilitator has been providing legal assistance to them every Sunday of the week

at BILS Support Center. Basically this program covers a wide range of legal advice for the

victims (i.e. workers rights, right of compensation, right of getting treatment, dividing the

compensation among the claimant etc) third party mediation and Salish to mitigate the arisen

problem among the claimant. These services help to get their compensation equally among

them.

From September to December, 2013 this center has filled seven cases. All the cases are in

progress. Two cases of them are near to finish by third party mediation and Shalish. The both

parties are near to compromise.

3.7. BILS participation in Rana Plaza Coordination committee on compensation &

rehabilitation process (facilitated by ILO)

After the fatal disaster of Rana Plaza Collapse (on April 24-2013), a unique multi-stakeholder

coordination committee has been formed with the UN agency International Labor

Organization (ILO) acting as a neutral chair to develop practical arrangement to provide a

single approach for compensation. The members of this committee are

International Stakeholders: National Stakeholders:

*IndustriALL Global Union

*Clean Cloth Campaign

*International Labor Organization

*Ministry of Labor and Employment-Bangladesh

(MoLE)

*Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF)

*Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers‟

Association (BGMEA)

*National Coordination Committee for Workers‟

Education (NCCWE)

*IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) and

*Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS)

Brands:

*El Corte Ingles

*Loblaw

*Primark

*Primark

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Since the formation of Rana Plaza Coordination Committee (RPCC), BILS has been actively

participating in its activities as a national stakeholder. Total 4 meetings of RPCC have been

organized and an „Understanding for a practical arrangement on payments‟ has been

developed.

As a part of this, during the visit of Mr. MojtabaKazazi (former executive director-United

Nations Compensation Commission & Member, ILO experts‟ team) BILS organized an

informal meeting with Mr. Kazazi with the participation of national stakeholders from

Bangladesh. The meeting was participated by representatives from Ministry of Labor and

Employment-Bangladesh (MoLE), Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF),Bangladesh

Garment Manufacturers‟ Association (BGMEA), National Coordination Committee for

Workers‟ Education (NCCWE), IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) and Bangladesh

Institute of Labor Studies (BILS).Agenda of the Meeting was:

Discussion on the results of the meetings and consultations of Mr. Kazazi during his

Bangladesh Visit

Detailed sharing of understanding on the negotiation of compensation and the

compensation standards proposed

Role of local members to accelerate the process and its effective distribution

Determining consistent ways forward

The meeting was facilitated by Mr. ZafrulHasan, Joint General Secretary, Bangladesh

Institute of Labor Studies-BILS. RPCC has finally taken some decisions on determining the

process of providing compensation to the injured workers/the family of deceased workers and

it is expected that BILS will physically be involved in this process.

3.8. SramikNirapotta Forum on Rana Plaza victim worker:

The SramikNirapotta Forum (SNF) is a coalition of civil society, labor, women‟s, human and

environmental rights organizations that have come together in a forum to provide assistance

and to seek justice for the victims of workplace

disasters. It was established after the collapse of the

building of the Spectrum Sweaters Industries at

Palashbari, Savar, Dhaka that took place in the early

morning of 11 April, 2005 that leaving 85 workers

dead. SNF is strongly aimed on advocacy towards

Picture 19: Press Conference of

SramikNirapotta Forum on Rana Plaza

victim worker

36

workers rights and safe work place. Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies-BILS is currently

serving as the secretariat of the forum where. Press Conference Demanding compensation,

rehabilitation and government information desk on Rana Plaza

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Chapter 4

BILS facilitation in mobilizing local Trade Unions

This terrible misshapen had shocked the humanity. After its collapse every level of local

people aggregated themselves in different type of support services. In 26th

April, 2016BILS

high officials along with central leaders of SKOP had visited the wreckage.BILS officials and

SKOP leaders consented to start support and information service for the victims. From then

local trade union activist and leaders have been working with BILS services. Among them

JatioShromic League (JSL), Bangladesh JatiyotabadiShromicDhol (BJSD), Bangladesh

Garments and ShelpoShromic Federation, SomajtantricShromic Front and KormojibiNari are

more remarkable.

Chapter Summary: BILS established to develop a prosperous democratic society in

Bangladeshwhich will be free from any kinds of discrimination and exploitationand where equal

rights and opportunities will be ensured for all people in respect of fulfilling their basic needs like

food, shelter, education, medical care, social security, rule of law, peace and progressive socio-

cultural environment where workers will not be treated as a commodity but the respectable partner

of progress. After collapsed the building BILS has started the support program in association of

local treade union which are affiliated with SKOP and local volunteers. BILS also facilitate to

mobilize the local trade union leaders and activists. Some International frinds of BILS and

development partners also meet with them and share their experience for developing capacity.

BILS arranged a workshop titled New Media and ICT Workshop for strengthening the Trade

Union Movement in Bangladesh’ in BILS Seminar Hall at 23 November 2013. The workshop

was aimed to strengthen the capacities of the Trade Union movement by increasing „Digital

Literacy‟,empowering workers at the grassroots levels to gain visibility and hear ability in order to

strengthen workers‟ solidarity and welfare and developing an ICT based innovative Social

Networking platform toempower workers in search for Decent Jobs.To built capacity of workers

and Trade Unions another Capacity Building Programme under ILO-FPRW Project was arranged

titled „Capacity Building Training Workshops for RMG TU Organizers’. The main objectives

of the workshop were to build a pool of Trade Union Organizers in Ready Made Garments

Industry, Provide necessary orientation to the TU organizers on workplace safety with special

focus on fire safety and their role to ensure it and Developing better understanding among the

organizers to work as a team in a united forum and enable them to prepare a plan for collective

action.

38

All the local trade union leaders and trade union activist work hard along with the BILS

Officials and staffs to implement the program successively. Among the trade union activists

Adv. Md. Abdul Awal, Rofiqul Islam, Abdul Khaleq, MahmudulHasanMukti, Rofiqul Islam

Sujon, ShahanazAkterPanna, and LipiAkter are mostly memoriable. At least 20 local

volunteers were work to provide all the support to the victims. Among them Zinnah, Jwel,

Badol, Younus are more remarkable. These volunteers also worked as rescuer in the

wreckage.

It was outstanding that all different ideological trade union activists work with BILS‟s

supportive intervention at Savar. Among the BILS‟s friends and well wishers Lone Ilum

Christiansen, Program Consultant, Asian Desk, LO/FTF Council has expressed gratitude to

all the TU leaders and volunteers who were working together to serving humanity by

arranging a meeting in 22th

October, 2013 at BILS Support Center, Savar.

4.1. Workshop to Strengthen TU Movement in Bangladesh

BILS facilitated workshop andcapacity building programmeto mobilizing Trade Unions. The

workshop was titled „New Media and ICT Workshop for strengthening the Trade Union

Movement in Bangladesh’. It was held inBILS Seminar Hall at 23 November 2013

(Saturday), was a day long program. In that program 24 TU leaders were participate (female-

13 and male-11) and also 3 from BILS (female-1, male-2). The main objectives of that

workshop were:

To initiate dialogues to strengthen the capacities of the Trade Union movement by

increasing „Digital Literacy‟,

To empower workers at the grassroots levels to gain visibility and hear ability in order

to strengthen workers‟ solidarity and welfare.

To develop an ICT based innovative Social Networking platform to empower workers

in search for Decent Jobs.

Picture 20: Lone Ilum Christiansen, Program

Consultant, Asian Desk of LOF/TF council and

NazmaYesmin, project officer SSNP, BILS in a meeting

with the local TU activists at BILS Support Center,

Saver.

Picture 21: A Rana Plaza victim taking a crutche from

the hand of Adv. Abdul Awal and Rofiqul Islam Sujon

at BILS Support Center, Savar.

39

Main Topics discussed:

Trade Union, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Community broadcasting for workers- Community radio,

Social Networking for Decent Job- Job Portal

Guests/Discussants:

Mr. Saidul Islam- Programme Officer, ILO- Country Office, Dhaka (closing)

Mr. MojiburRahmanBhuiyan- Vice Chairman, BILS (opening)

Mr. MdKabirHossain- Finance Secretary, BILS (opening &

Documents

Bangladesh institute of Labor Studies BILS · Email: [email protected], Web: BILS Support Center D-28/1 Talbag, Savar, Dhaka . 2 “About 4000 family were victimized by this incident,