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. Why Article 116 of the Constitution Should Not Be Declared Unconstitutional  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.

Eminent Dhallywood actor, freedom fighter and politician Masud Parvez, popularly known by his stage name Sohel Rana, has launched his new political organisation titled ‘Bangladesh Justice Party’ (‘Bangladesh Insaf Party’ in Bangla). The formation of the party under the chairmanship of the veteran actor was announced after a meeting held in a city hotel in the capital on Thursday (October 3) evening. The 51-member committee of the new party will be announced later this month or the first week of November. Pigeon, the symbol of peace, has been decided as the party's official symbol. Dhallywood’s one of the most popular ‘Golden Era’ actors Sohel Rana has been involved in politics for a long time. During his student life in the Ananda Mohan College, Mymensingh, he was the president of the college Chhatra League. Actor Sohel Rana shifted to ICU He became the General Secretary of Greater Mymensingh Chhatra League in 1965, Assistant General Secretary of East Pakistan Chhatra League in 1966, and a member of the executive committee of the entire East Pakistan Chhatra League in 1968. After the country's independence, Sohel Rana was elected Vice President of Iqbal Hall in 1972 while studying at Dhaka University. He joined the Jatiya Party in 2009 by accepting its praesidium membership and was appointed as an election advisor to the Jatiya Party chairman and former President of the country HM Ershad. Also a veteran and acclaimed silver screen actor, Sohel Rana stepped into the country’s film industry immediately after the independence in 1971 by establishing Parvez Films as a producer. Under the banner of this production house, the late eminent filmmaker Chashi Nazrul Islam made Bangladesh's first full-length film based on the Liberation War, ‘Ora Egaro Jon’ in 1972. He started his career as an actor and director in 1973 with the film ‘Masud Rana’ where he portrayed the title character, based on a story from the late fictionist Qazi Anwar Hussain's famous fictional spy thriller series ‘Masud Rana’. For his contribution as an actor, Sohel Rana achieved the National Film Award three times in his career, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The High Court (HC) on Thursday granted bail to Sohel Rana , the owner of the ill-fated Rana Plaza that collapsed in 2013 leaving 1,138 RMG workers dead, in a murder case over the deadly incident in Savar. The HC bench of Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Shahid Noor passed the order after hearing a bail petition. After the order, there is no legal barrier to walk out of jail for accused Rana, said lawyer Kamrul Islam, one of the defendant counsels. Earlier on March 1 last year, the HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why he would not be granted bail in the case. On April 24, 2013, Rana Plaza, an illegally-constructed building in Savar which housed five garment factories, came down crashing, killing 1,138 people and injuring over 2,000 others. Trial in the murder case filed over Rana Plaza collapse began officially on January 31, 2022 by recording statements of the witnesses. On July 18, 2016, Dhaka District and Session Court Judge SM Kuddus Zaman framed charges against the accused and passed an order to begin the trial. But it got barred as most of the accused appealed to the higher court challenging legality of the order. Read more: 9 years of Rana Plaza collapse: Bangladesh commemorates its worst industrial tragedy On January 31 last year, after clearing the appeals, District and Sessions Court Judge AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan recorded the statement of plaintiff, then Sub-Inspector of Savar police station Wali Ashraf. Over the tragic incident then SI of Savar police station Wali Ashraf filed a murder case accusing the owner and others of dereliction and negligence in building construction. On June 1, 2015, Assistant Superintendent of Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police Bijoy Krishna Kar submitted charge sheet in the case against 41 people including the building owner Sohel Rana. A total of 594 people were made witnesses in this case.

Renowned actor, director and producer Sohel Rana has been shifted to a cabin from the intensive care unit of the Evercare Hospital in the capital as his health condition has improved, his son said. "We have spent the last few days under stress. A life-saving jab was much needed for my father which was fortunately found in time. Now he has been shifted to the cabin from the hospital ICU," his son Mashrur Parvez told UNB. READ: Sohel Rana’s condition deteriorates Sohel Rana was admitted to the city hospital on December 25 in a critical condition. Later he tested positive for Covid-19 and he was admitted to the ICU, when his condition worsened. READ: Actor Sohel Rana shifted to ICU

The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a rule seeking explanation as to why Sohel Rana, the owner of the ill-fated Rana Plaza that collapsed in the deadliest incident ever in the history of  should not get bail in a murder case filed over Rana Plaza tragedy that had claimed 1,134 lives.

The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking why the bail of Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana in a case filed over illegally amassing wealth should not be cancelled.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed a High Court order that had granted a six-month bail to suspended Chattogram jailer Sohel Rana in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).