Sohel Rana, owner of the ill-fated Rana Plaza that collapsed in 2013, killing over 1,100 workers, will remain in jail as the Appellate Division has stayed his bail for six months.
The High Court had granted Rana bail on October 1 in a murder case connected to the tragedy, but the country's top court has now intervened, citing the severity of the case.
The stay order was issued by a three-member bench, led by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, after the state filed a petition to halt the bail.
The Appellate Division has instructed that a rule issued on the bail stay be resolved within two months.
Rana Plaza tragedy: Appellate Division stays Rana’s bail
Representing the state, Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf and Barrister Anik R Haque argued the case, while Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared on behalf of Sohel Rana.
Rana, who was detained while attempting to flee to India in 2013, has since been held in Kashimpur Part-II Jail in Gazipur.
Living under typical prison conditions, eyewitnesses describe him as having adapted to jail life with no visible signs of remorse for the catastrophe that forever altered Bangladesh’s garment industry.
The 2013 collapse remains one of the world’s deadliest industrial disasters, leaving 1,138 workers dead and injuring more than 2,500 others.
The Making of Rana Plaza: Corruption and Criminal Negligence
Described by local media as an archetypal "mastan"—a term in Bangladesh referring to a neighbourhood thug or "muscleman"—Rana wielded considerable influence as a member of the ruling Jubo League's local political wing in Savar.
Known for his ties to local politicians and law enforcement, he ran various businesses and used his position to gain political leverage.
The structure, built in 2006 by Rana and his father Abdul Khalek, reportedly came into their possession through intimidation tactics and falsified property deeds.
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Despite the building’s initial design to support only small shops, Rana allegedly leveraged political connections to add three additional floors for factory use, increasing its height to five floors without adequate safety considerations.
On April 23, 2013, a loud cracking sound prompted factory employees to alert an engineer, who observed large fissures in the building’s supporting columns and advised immediate evacuation.
However, Rana reportedly dismissed these warnings, addressing the media the following day to suggest the issues were minor.
When a generator on an upper floor activated, shaking the building, it triggered a catastrophic collapse that killed over a thousand workers, the majority of whom were young garment employees.
The police quickly filed a murder case against Rana and other stakeholders, citing gross negligence and violations of building codes. However, over a decade later, justice for the victims remains slow and heavily contested.
A Legacy of Corruption and Tragedy
Rana Plaza's collapse brought global attention to the safety challenges in Bangladesh’s RMG industry, prompting significant reforms. Yet, the legal proceedings have been lengthy and contentious, often mired in bureaucratic delays and appeals.
As the Appellate Division’s stay order holds for six months, the families of those who perished in the tragedy wait for a semblance of justice, hoping that the court will uphold the rights and safety of workers over political influence and corruption.