TWENTY DAYS LATER
The Rana Plaza Tragedy
On 24th April 2013 in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh, the eight storey Rana Plaza building collapsed. The Rana Plaza housed five garment factories, shops and a bank. One thousand one hundred and twenty nine people were killed. Two thousand five hundred injured survivors were trapped. Twenty days later I arrived in Savar to document the aftermath. To visit the site and to meet the rescuers, the survivors and the bereaved. Through documentary film, books and exhibitions I aim to raise awareness of the Bangladesh garment industry with Western consumers and manufacturers.
Chris Gravett 2014
For Roni
my fixer and translator
The injured survivors
The missing
The bereaved
The rescuers
On 24th April 2013 when the Rana Plaza building collapsed Bangladesh experienced the worst ever disaster of its kind. 1129 people died. 2500 survivors were rescued over a 17 day period by 800 rescuers - 400 Fire and Civil Defence and 400 volunteers many were students trained by the Red Cescent. On 24th April 2013 garment workers were forced to attend work in the Rana Plaza despite reports of large cracks in the walls. They were told they would lose a months pay if they did not attend work. Primark, Walmart, Mango, Benetton, Matalan and up to thirty other Western retailers had clothes manufactured at Rana Plaza. Such tragedies are caused by greed. The greed of Mohammed Sohel Rana, the gangster who illegally built and owned the Rana Plaza. The greed of Western retailers using the cheapest labour in the world in unsafe working conditions. The greed of Western consumers. Greed.
Photography by Chris Gravett LeFlic17images Edited and published by Chris Gravett LeFlic17images Š2014 Chris Gravett/LeFlic17images