Rana Plaza Tragedy: More than half of injured workers now paralysed

Shahjahan Mia used to work as a swing operator at a garment factory in Rana Plaza. He survived the building collapse, but volunteered to help. But, he was paralyzed when a wall fell on him during the rescue. Shahjahan Mia said that although he later opened a shop with the help of various organizations, his physical condition is deteriorating further.

According to a survey conducted by ActionAid Bangladesh, 56.5 per cent of the workers injured in the Rana Plaza accident said that their physical condition had deteriorated from 14 per cent last year. In the current survey, 56.5 per cent said their physical condition had deteriorated. They said they were suffering from various physical problems including pain in the waist, head, arms and legs and back.

This year the decline began to occur

Surveys conducted in previous years have shown a gradual improvement in the physical health of workers injured in accidents, but there has been a decline this year. The survey also found that 33 per cent were almost stable and 10.5 per cent were completely stable.  

While 12.5 per cent were affected by mental trauma last year, this year it has risen to 48.5 per cent. 31 percent said their mental state is almost stable and 20.5 percent are completely stable.

Half of the injured are unemployed

ActionAid Bangladesh conducted the survey among 200 survivors on the occasion of the 9th anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy. Among the workers injured in the Rana Plaza accident, the unemployment rate is 53 percent and 47 percent are employed in various types of employment. Of these, 60 percent said they could not work due to physical disability and 10 percent were still suffering from mental anguish. There has been a tendency among the injured workers to change jobs frequently due to the inability to do the same type of work for a long time due to physical limitations.   

Many have changed professions

According to the survey, 14.5 per cent have returned to their original occupation of garments and another 8 per cent are involved in tailoring. Many have shifted to occupations such as housework, day labor, agriculture, sales and driving.

The survey found that most incomes have been greatly reduced by the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Among the participants in the survey, 63.5 per cent said they did not have enough money to buy daily necessities during the pandemic, 51.5 percent said they could not pay regular rent ,  and 22.5 percent said they could not take proper care of their child. During the epidemic, 46.5 percent had to take out loans to buy food and other necessities for their families.

According to the survey, 36 per cent of those who survived the accident had a family income of less than Tk 5,000 and 34 per cent had a family income of between Tk 10,000 and Tk 15,000. Thirty-five per cent said their monthly expenditure was more than Tk 10,000 and 30 per cent more than Tk 15,000, most of which was spent on daily necessities, rent, housing, education and medical care.

Many have not been compensated

Khairul Islam Mintu, organizing secretary of the Garment Workers Trade Union, said those responsible for the Rana Plaza incident had not yet been brought to justice. Whenever April 24 comes, there is talk of justice. But there is no discussion about the remaining 11 months of the year. The government took steps to make the factories safer by amending the labor laws. Then came Accord, the Alliance. But safety at the factory was not guaranteed. Accidents are still happening in different factories. Workers are constantly giving their lives. The factory owners do not give leave if the workers who are still alive in Rana Plaza want to come on this day to pay their respects. The government and factory owners want to forget this day. But we want and will demand justice for this incident.

An injured worker of Rana Plaza Nilufa Akhter said I want compensation. Arrange my treatment. Ensure maximum punishment of owner Rana as well.