Court Correspondent :
The District and Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka on Monday framed charges against
41 accused, including Rana Plaza building owner Sohel Rana, in the murder case in connection with collapse of the building in 2013.
Judge SM Kuddus Zaman of the court passed the order and fixed September 18 to start trial with the deposition of witnesses. Earlier, the court rejected the discharge petitions of 35 accused where they sought their discharge from the case. Of the 41 accused, seven are now in jail, 27 secured bail from the court, while seven others are on the run. Of the accused, 34 were present during the hearing. On December 21, last year, the court took cognizance of the chargesheet of the murder case.
A total of 1,129 people, mostly garment workers, were killed and about 2,515 others were injured as Rana Plaza came down crushing in Savar on the outskirt of the capital Dhaka on 24 April, 2013.
Over two years after the tragedy, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police pressed charges against 42 people, including Sohel Rana on June 1, last year in the two cases filed over the collapse of the building.
Of the accused included in the charge sheet, 17 were common in the two charge sheets submitted by the CID. Sohel’s father Abdul Khalek, mother Marjina Begum and 12 government officials were made accused in the charge sheet.
On the day, when the complex collapsed, Rajuk filed a case with Savar Model Police Station against Sohel Rana for violating the National Building Code. Police also filed a case accusing six people, including Sohel Rana, on April 25, 2013 on the allegation of committing murder. Police arrested Sohel Rana on April 28, 2013.
