Building owner nabbed
Spanish man wanted over Bangladesh factory disaster
Savar, April 28: The death toll in the worst building collapse in the history of Bangladesh on Sunday rose to 397, even as the fugitive owner of the 8-storey structure was arrested dramatically while attempting to flee to India.
Sohel Rana was arrested by the country’s elite anticrime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Benapole, one of the 14 land ports with India, just as he was about to cross into West Bengal, making this afternoon’s arrest the fifth in the case.
Rana was later brought from Benapole in Jessore district to the RAB headquarters in Dhaka in a helicopter and was presented before the media.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had promised that those responsible will be brought to justice. She has kept her promise,” Nanak said.
Those who have been arrested will be prosecuted and those who are yet to be arrested will be caught soon, junior Home Minister Shamsul Haque Tuku said.
According to officials, Rana erected the building defying safety rules and proper clearance.
Meanwhile, a media report on Sunday said the Bangladesh police were looking for a Spanish businessman and part-owner of a factory.
Police said they had filed preliminary charges of “causing death due to negligence” against managing director of the Phantom-Tac apparel factory David Mayor and the owners of another four manufacturing firms housed inside Rana Plaza, the report stated. — PTI