Assessing the Safety of Bangladesh's Garment Industry 10 Years After Rana Plaza

Ten years after the Rana Plaza disaster, which claimed the lives of over 1,100 garment workers in Bangladesh, the country's garment industry has undergone significant transformation in terms of safety standards. More than 80% of Bangladesh's 3,200 readymade garment factories are now internationally compliant with safety and security standards, and the country is home to half of the world's top 100 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs (LEED)-certified green industrial units. The RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) was formed in 2020 to continue improving safety standards in industrial units, and Bangladesh's clothing industry has grown by 79% from $19bn in 2015 to $34bn in 2022. However, there are still areas for improvement, such as periodic boiler inspection, which is currently understaffed.