UTS Library Photo Exhibition: ‘Rana Plaza: Murder Not Tragedy’

7 October 2015

13-31 July: On April 23 2013 workers evacuated a large garment factory known as Rana Plaza, in Dhaka, when they noticed large cracks in the structure. The next day workers were instructed to return to work, and the building collapsed leaving at least 1,100 people dead. 2,500 were rescued, many with very serious injuries. In June 2015, after two years of sustained pressure on the Government, 41 people were charged with murder, including factory owners and government officials. The Rana Plaza factory had directly supplied clothing for global High Street retailers around the world. The collapse sparked global outrage and led to the 'Accord on Fire and Building Safety' for the Bangladesh garment industry, signed by many high street retailers. In 2013 Drik invited photographers, activists and other artists to submit work and register their protest. Their observations, recorded and imagined, formed the basis of this exhibition.