Staff Reporter :
An amount of Taka 108 crore deposited in the Prime Minister’s fund in aid of the Rana Plaza victims has remained unused for months together, when the victims were in desperate need of help. This was revealed at a press conference on Tuesday by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on ‘Steps taken to implement good governance in readymade garment sector: Progress in last one year’. Nazmul Huda, Assistant Programme Manager of TIB briefed the journalists. TIB Chairperson Sultan Kamal and Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman were also present during the press conference at Dhanmondi.
Nazmul said two years had already elapsed since the Rana Plaza tragedy, but Taka 108 crore remained unused due to lack of planning.
On April 24, 2013, the nine-storied Rana Plaza, housing a number of readymade garment factories, collapsed killing 1,138 people and injuring many others.
The report says about $19 million was deposited by buyers and international organisations in the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund.
Besides, US $ 2.48 million was deposited in the Prime Minister’s relief and welfare fund and US $16 million equivalent to Taka 127 crore was deposited in the Prime Minister’s fund.
“Of the total money collected, nearly US$ 14 million (Tk 108 crore) remained unused,” TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, quoting the report.
According to the report, those who got compensation, their list has not been published yet. “We have recommended that the government publish the list of those who were given compensation and list of estimated loss,” he added
