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Owner of Collapsed Building Arrested in Bangladesh Owner of Collapsed Building Arrested in Bangladesh
(about 7 hours later)
SAVAR, Bangladesh — The owner of the building that collapsed last week in a deadly heap in a Dhaka suburb was arrested on Sunday at a border crossing with India, a government minister said.SAVAR, Bangladesh — The owner of the building that collapsed last week in a deadly heap in a Dhaka suburb was arrested on Sunday at a border crossing with India, a government minister said.
The owner, identified as Mohammed Sohel Rana, was arrested near a crossing in western Bangladesh, along the border with India’s West Bengal state, and is being brought back to the capital Dhaka by helicopter, the junior minister for local government, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, said.The owner, identified as Mohammed Sohel Rana, was arrested near a crossing in western Bangladesh, along the border with India’s West Bengal state, and is being brought back to the capital Dhaka by helicopter, the junior minister for local government, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, said.
An announcement was also made by loudspeaker at the site of the collapsed building in a Dhaka suburb, where people cheered and clapped. At least 362 people have died in the collapse Wednesday of the eight-story building that housed garment factories.An announcement was also made by loudspeaker at the site of the collapsed building in a Dhaka suburb, where people cheered and clapped. At least 362 people have died in the collapse Wednesday of the eight-story building that housed garment factories.
The death toll is expected to rise but it is already the deadliest tragedy to hit Bangladesh’s garment industry, which is worth $20 billion a year and a mainstay of the economy. The collapse and previous disasters in garment factories have focused attention on the poor working conditions of workers who toil for as little as $38 a month to make clothing for international brands.The death toll is expected to rise but it is already the deadliest tragedy to hit Bangladesh’s garment industry, which is worth $20 billion a year and a mainstay of the economy. The collapse and previous disasters in garment factories have focused attention on the poor working conditions of workers who toil for as little as $38 a month to make clothing for international brands.
Mr. Rana has been sought since Wednesday. According to reports, he had appeared in front of Rana Plaza on Tuesday after huge cracks appeared in the structure, but had assured tenants, including five garment factories, that the building was safe.Mr. Rana has been sought since Wednesday. According to reports, he had appeared in front of Rana Plaza on Tuesday after huge cracks appeared in the structure, but had assured tenants, including five garment factories, that the building was safe.
A bank and some shops on the first floor shut their premises on Wednesday, but managers of the garment factories on the upper floor told workers to continue their shifts.A bank and some shops on the first floor shut their premises on Wednesday, but managers of the garment factories on the upper floor told workers to continue their shifts.
Hours later Rana Plaza was reduced to rubble, and most victims were crushed by blocks of concrete and falling mortar. A garment manufacturers’ group said the factories employed more than 3,000 workers, but it was not clear how many were inside it when it collapsed. About 2,500 survivors have been accounted for.Hours later Rana Plaza was reduced to rubble, and most victims were crushed by blocks of concrete and falling mortar. A garment manufacturers’ group said the factories employed more than 3,000 workers, but it was not clear how many were inside it when it collapsed. About 2,500 survivors have been accounted for.
On Sunday, rescuers found nine people alive inside the rubble, as the authorities announced they will now use heavy equipment to drill a central hole from the top to look for survivors and dead bodies.On Sunday, rescuers found nine people alive inside the rubble, as the authorities announced they will now use heavy equipment to drill a central hole from the top to look for survivors and dead bodies.
Army Maj. Gen. Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy, who is coordinating the rescue operations, said they would try to save the nine people first by manually shifting concrete blocks with the help of light equipment like pick axes and shovels. But a fire broke out later in the wreckage, with smoke pouring from the piles of shattered concrete and some rescue efforts forced to stop.
“But if we fail, we will start our next phase within hours,” which would involve heavy equipment, including hydraulic cranes and cutters to bore a hole from the top of the collapsed building, he told reporters. Officials say the fire started because of sparks generated as rescuers tried to cut through a steel rod to reach a survivor. Firefighters are trying to bring the fire under control.
The purpose is to “continue the operation to recover both survivors and dead bodies. In this stage, we have no other choice but to use some heavy equipment. We will start it within a few hours. Manual operation and use of small equipment is not enough,” he said. Rescuers have retreated from the part of the wreckage that is burning, but were still trying to reach survivors in other parts of the destroyed eight-story building.
Officials say at least three rescue workers have been injured in the fire.