The Garment Workers’ Trade Union Centre (GWTUC) observed the 4th year of Rana Plaza tragedy as an another year passing by without the workers being compensated, rehabilitated and the people responsible for the commission of such a tragedy nowhere near to be accounted for their atrocities in a Court of law.
In such circumstances, GWTUC began the day by paying respect to the victims who are resting in peace at the Jurain Graveyard at 8 am. One minute of silence was observed to pay homage by the leaders and members of GWTUC. At the same time another team of GWTUC leaders and members paid homage to Rana Plaza Memorial at Savar.
The Government irresponsibly, recklessly and perhaps intentionally obstructed the public meeting of GWTUC which was scheduled to take place in front of the ruins of Rana Plaza at 4 pm on 24 April 2017. The Police without any provocation or reasonable grounds whatsoever used excessive, undue and unlawful force to disperse the public meeting and took away the stage on the night before 24 April 2017 thus violating Constitutional rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Disabled and handicapped victims of Rana Plaza who were present at the meeting were injured by Police brutality along with the leaders and activists of GWTUC.
On 25 April 2017, GWTUC organized a public meeting to protest and condemn suppression of Constitutional rights by Government in front of National Press Club.
The leaders and activists condemned Police attacks on their public meeting on 24 April 2017 and demanded justice for the victims of the Rana Plaza Tragedy.After the meeting, the procession protesting the events of 24 April 2017, went through several important central streets and ended in front of the party office of Communist Party of Bangladesh.
Following are the demands
(1) the victims dead or alive must be properly compensated as soon as possible;
(2) the victims who are injured and living without any financial security and the least human dignity must be rehabilitated;
(3) the people responsible for this tragedy must be brought to justice;
(4) 24th April should be declared to be observed and respected nationwide as a day of national mourning and a public holiday.