12 Years of the Rana Plaza Tragedy: We Remain Committed to Standing Beside the Workers

That day (24 April, 2025) marks 12 years since the horrific Rana Plaza disaster. This day reminds us of the importance of ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of working people. On this occasion, the Workers Research and Development Foundation (WRDF) and PSDI Consultancy jointly took part in a heartfelt program held in front of the Rana Plaza site. We spent meaningful time with workers and their families, listening to their experiences, struggles, and hopes. On this day, we renew our promise —to ensure that workers’ lives are safe, workplaces are humane, and fairness and ethics form the foundation of every institution.

The Rana Plaza tragedy refers to the catastrophic building collapse that occurred on 24 April 2013 in Savar, Bangladesh. As of 2025, it has been 12 years since the disaster.

Rana Plaza was an eight-story commercial building housing several garment factories, a bank, shops, and offices. Cracks had appeared in the building the day before, but workers were still forced to return. The building collapsed during the morning rush, trapping thousands.

Impact

• 1,134 people were killed, and more than 2,500 were injured, making it one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history.
• Most victims were garment workers producing clothes for global brands.
• The tragedy exposed major issues in:
  • Workplace safety
  • Labor exploitation
  • Global supply chain accountability

Aftermath & Changes

The tragedy led to the creation of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a major legally binding agreement between brands and labor groups. It resulted in significant improvements in:

• Factory inspections
• Worker safety standards
• Global attention to ethical and responsible sourcing

12 Years Later — Why It Still Matters

The tragedy remains a symbol of the human cost behind fast fashion. Although safety has improved in Bangladesh, many challenges persist: low wages, union suppression, and unsafe conditions in other parts of the global garment industry.