Survivors of Rana Plaza disaster that killed more than 1,100 protest over labour rights

Tearful and angry survivors of the Rana Plaza disaster gathered at the factory site on Friday to protest against poor compensation on the two-year anniversary of the tragedy that claimed more than 1,100 lives.

About 2,000 survivors, some on crutches, and families of victims held hands in a show of solidarity at the ruins of the factory complex which imploded in 2013 in one of the world’s worst industrial disasters.

From early morning, the crowd, many clutching photos of loved ones, gathered at a makeshift memorial at the site to protest a range of concerns including poor factory safety standards and a lack of compensation.

“I only got one million taka (US$12,900) from the prime minister’s fund, but nothing from the trust fund created to help the victims,” Rehana Akhter, whose leg was amputated after she became trapped under tonnes of debris, said.

The trust fund was set up by retailers and labour groups in the wake of the tragedy.

“I can’t work. I need expensive medicines and I have a family to look after,” the 24-year-old said, supporting herself with a crutch, at the site in Savar outside the capital Dhaka.