Rana Plaza: A Decade Later, Is Bangladesh's Garment Industry Safe?

Ten years after the Rana Plaza disaster, which killed over 1,100 people in an eight-story building that housed five garment factories in Bangladesh, progress has been made in ensuring workplace safety for garment workers. The Accord on Fire and Building Safety, a legally binding agreement between factory owners, global unions, and European clothing brands, has led to 56,000 inspections across 2,400 factories in Bangladesh and more than 140,000 issues being corrected. However, many American companies that source from Bangladesh, including Walmart, Levi’s, Gap, and Amazon, haven’t signed the International Accord despite reaping its benefits. Survivors of the tragedy continue to struggle with physical and mental health issues, unemployment, and financial hardship.