Rana Plaza survivors block Dhaka-Aricha highway

At least 15 people were injured as police charged batons on the survivors of Rana Plaza collapse, who blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar on Sunday demanding Eid bonus and salaries from the month of May.

Transport movement on the highway came to a halt on 10 kilometres area for 45 minutes since noon following the blockade, reports our Savar correspondent

At least 1,132 people were killed and 2,438 people were rescued from the debris of the nine-storey building that collapsed in Savar on April 24.

Witnesses said over 300 survivors and their relatives blocked the highway at noon to press home their demands.

But police charged batons on them, leaving 15 people injured, they said.

Contacted, Mostafa Kamal, officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station, said they charged batons on the demonstrators only to free the busy highway.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) paid the salary for April to the workers after the deadly collapse.

But according to the rules, the authorities must pay salary of three months before terminating a worker, said Md Jalal, an injured worker of the collapsed building.

Jalal, who had taken treatment in Enam Medical College and Hospital in Savar, said he had no money for further treatment though the doctors asked him to take bed rest for the next three months.

Marjina, 55, mother of garment worker Rasheda who remained missing after the building collapse, also joined the protest waged by the survivors.

She said she had no money left for going back home in Rajbari.