DHAKA: In 2013, Bangladesh saw both political and economical unrest besieging the nation. The Rana Plaza disaster, an eight storied building, that collapsed leaving over 1100 people dead and over 2000 people injured.

Rana Plaza Tragedy: On 24 April 2013, Rana Plaza, an eight-story commercial building, collapsed in Savar, the suburb of the capital Dhaka.

The search for the dead ended on 13 May with the death toll of 1,129. Approximately 2,515 injured people were rescued from the building alive.

It is considered to be the deadliest garment-factory accident in history, as well as the deadliest accidental structural failure in modern human history.

The Savar building collapse has led to widespread discussions and criticisms about corporate social responsibility across global supply chains.

It served as a horrific reminder of the poor conditions that define an essential industry, which employs about four million people in Bangladesh.

The disaster forced discussions, domestically and internationally, of reform in factories that supply major retailers across Europe and America.

Finally, they highlighted that collaboration with local partners is crucial to successfully managing social responsibility in supply chains.

Compensation to victims:

As of mid-September 2013, compensations to families of disaster victims were still under discussion, with many families struggling to survive after having lost a major wage earner.

Families who had received the $200 compensation from Primark were only those who were able to provide DNA evidence of their relative`s death in the collapse, something which proved extremely difficult.

The U.S. government provided DNA kits to the families of victims.

Worldwide criticism

Nick Clegg, current UK Deputy PM and leader of the Liberal Democrats, Michael Connarty, UK`s Falkirk East MP, called on the UK Government to push through new legislation to end modern day slavery by forcing major High Street companies in the UK to audit their supply chain.

The framework will request those companies to make vigorous checks to ensure slave labour is not used in third world countries, and the UK, to produce their goods.

Karel De Gucht, current European Commissioner for Trade, warned that retailers and the Bangladeshi government could face action from the EU if nothing is done to improve the conditions of workers – adding that shoppers should also consider where they are spending their money.

On May Day, Pope Francis spoke out against the working conditions in the factory of Bangladesh and pay condolence to the victims of Rana Plaza tragedy.

Thailand and Joypur Foot aids for victims:
 
Joypur Foot for Savar victims: The Jaipur Foot, an Indian organization working for the disabled, set a temporary camp on October 2013 to provide artificial limbs to over 100 victims of the Rana Plaza building collapse.

Thailand Government initiatives: Thai government in collaboration with Prostheses Foundation of HRH the Princess Mother and Bangladesh government provided artificial limbs for Rana Plaza victims.

A total of 107 disabled including Rana Plaza victims and others were given these prosthetic limbs at a week long limbs donation programme from September 22-28, 2013 at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor).

Another inferno in RMG factory:

Another inferno incident raised the question of safety and security in RMG sector as at least 9 people were burnt to ashes in a factory fire at Aswad composite mills Ltd. a readymade garment factory of Paul Mall Group in Gazipur last night killed on October 9, 2013.

It brought the throbbing memory, a devastating factory fire in Tazreen Fashions, in Ashulia, in November of In 2012 killed at least 117 and left scores other injured.

Sabotage: Standard garment arson:

The major arson incident at readymade Garments Sectors   marked in 2013 which has destroyed a 10-story building at one of Bangladesh’s “top 10″ garment factories and police believe it may have been deliberately set.

The fire broke out in the Standard Group factory in Gazipur, 47 kilometers north of the capital Dhaka

The blaze affected the jobs of approximately 18,000 people.

The fire did not start because of poor building conditions, such as those that led to the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory on April 24 that left 1,135 people dead.

Cut off GSP facility:

Bangladesh lost to bring back the free access in global market like USA by end of the year as the industrial sector failed to restore importers’ demand of security.

US President Barack Obama suspended long-time US privileged trade benefits, or GSP status, for Bangladesh in a mostly symbolic response to dangerous conditions in the garment industry that have cost more than 1,200 lives in the past year.

Bangladesh’s apparel came under scrutiny after the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory building in April that killed over 1,100 people and the Tazreen Fashions Ltd factory fire in November 2013 that burnt more than 110 workers.

But it could influence the European Union to take similar action, which would have a much bigger impact on Bangladesh and its garment sector. The European Union buys more than $12 billion in Bangladeshi garments each year, or roughly three-fifths of the country’s production.

Losing the GSP facility will cost Bangladesh millions of dollars in taxes.

Political Violence:

Countrymen had suffered a crucial political condition in the year with a huge number of strike, blockades, and fierce clashes between political parties.

A total of 492 people including 15 police members were killed in 419 major incidents of political violence throughout the year of 2013.

Human rights organization Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) also said about 2,200 other were injured in the incidents those took place till December 24.

Downtrend of remittance:

Remittance flow in the country decreased after 37 years, showed a recent research by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RAMRU).

The reason of declining was, not sending efficient workers and lack of strong lobbying, according to the RAMRU research.

Till December 24, 2013 the remittance was $13.47 billion and if the same rate continues, the amount of remittance would be $13.79 billion which would be 2.76 percent less then the previous year.

Uncertainty over Teesta river deal & Land Boundary agreement with India:

The 2013 was marked with several failures in diplomacy as the stoppage to implement the Teesta river water-sharing deal and ratify Land Boundary Agreement with neighboring India.

In the past four years were irked and made another failure of negotiations with India.  

The fate of the much-talked-about Teesta water sharing treaty is still uncertain as India put off the meetings of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) between two countries.

India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers. So far, India has signed only one treaty on the sharing of the water of the Ganges. And that was in 1996.

Bangladesh couldn’t manage to maintain its diplomatic success with India as the much awaited land boundary agreement as it still shelved.

Cricket on shy:

"I should have not done this injustice to the nation. I feel guilty and would only say please all forgive me, my conduct was improper”, Ashraful, who captained Bangladesh between 2007 and 2009.

The sports was faced bashful year 2013 with the comment from one of the passionate batsman cricketer of the country has been in the eye of the storm ever since

His confessional statement to the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) about his involvement not only in this year`s BPL but allegedly also in international games for the country.

The international cricket watchdog admitted that he was one of seven people who had been charged with match-fixing in the BPL.

BDST: 2122 HRS, DEC 31, 2013
Edited by: Morshed Jahan Mithun, Newsroom Editor