Death toll increases;402 dead, 149 missing in Bangladesh building collapse

Death toll increases;402 dead, 149 missing in Bangladesh building collapse

Bangladesh building collapse (file photo)

Wed May 1, 2013 10:15AM GMT

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The death toll of a building collapse in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka has reached 402, with 149 people unaccounted for, officials say.

Major General Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy on Wednesday confirmed the death of more than 400 people in last week's factory compound collapse.

He added that a list containing the names of 149 missing people has been prepared by local officials and their relatives.

The eight-story building where low-cost garments were made for Western retailers collapsed on April 24.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, thousands of workers marched through central Dhaka to demand safety at work. They also called for death penalty for the owner of the building that collapsed in the capital.

More than 3,000 people, mainly young women workers, were in the building at the time of the collapse.

On April 30, a court in Bangladesh granted police two weeks to interrogate the owner of the textile factory building Mohammed Sohel Rana.

Police said that two factory bosses and two engineers involved in building the complex were captured early on April 28.

Rana was apprehended on April 28 as he tried to flee to India. He will be interrogated on charges of negligence, illegal construction and forcing workers to keep on working in an unsafe building.

Police officials say the factory owners had ignored warnings against allowing workers into the building after deep cracks were detected in the walls the day before the collapse.

On April 25, demonstrators took to the streets of Dhaka to protest against poor working conditions and safety standards, with Western clothing retailers blamed for failing to provide basic working standards for their Asian suppliers.