Staff Reporter :
Abdul Khaleque, the owner of much-talked-about illegally constructed building Rana Plaza in Savar that had collapsed seven years back taking the lives of 1,138 people-died from coronavirus on Thursday.
His daughter Rawshan Ara said septuagenarian Khaleque died in the early hours of Thursday while receiving treatment at his home as he had been suffering from breathing problem.
With this one, the death toll from coronavirus in Savar Upazila stood at nine.
Rawshan said her father was taken to Savar’s Enam Medical College Hospital for treatment after he developed shortness of breath last Sunday, but he was denied admission to the hospital as the authorities were not sure if he was a Covid-19 patient.
He was later taken home and given treatment there, she said.
Khaleque’s samples were collected by Enam Medical last Monday for Covid-19 test.
“We received the test results today determining that he contracted the coronavirus, hut he died earlier this morning,”
Savar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Sayemul Huda said the authorities at Enam Medical College Hospital confirmed that Abdul Khaleq was a Covid-19 patient.
on April 24, 2013, the eight-story building Rana Plaza owned by Abdul Khaleque collapsed in Savar bus stand area, killing at least 1,138 people. Most of them were workers of five the garment factory housed in that building.
At that time, several cases were filed against Abdul Khaleque, his son Sohel Rana and may other people.
Khaleque had been out of jail on bail, but Sohel Rana is still in custody.
