Structural cracks were discovered in the Rana Plaza building in Savar on 23 April, and shops and a bank on the lower floors closed. Garment workers on the upper floors were nonetheless instructed to return the following morning, when generators started and the building collapsed within minutes.
1,134 people died and around 2,500 were injured, many with life-changing injuries. Investigations found illegally added upper floors, substandard materials and heavy machinery the structure was never designed to carry.
The disaster transformed global supply-chain accountability, producing the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, thousands of factory inspections and lasting changes in how international brands audit suppliers.
Why this event still matters
Historical incidents shape the rules that protect people today — building codes, evacuation policy, warning systems and inspection regimes almost always trace back to a specific disaster. Studying Rana Plaza Building Collapse alongside current events is how preparedness improves.
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