Over 160 feared dead after building collapse outside Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka

Rescue efforts are continuing at a building outside the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka after it collapsed yesterday, killing at least 160 people. Primark, a clothes retailer with a large presence in Britain, confirmed that one of its suppliers was on the second floor of the Rana Plaza, and Bonmarche and Matalan are also thought to also be customers.

A spokesperson for Primark said: "The company is shocked and deeply saddened by this appalling incident at Savar, near Dhaka, and expresses its condolences to all of those involved.

"Primark confirms that one of its suppliers occupied the second floor of the eight storey building, which housed several suppliers to the garment industry making clothing for a number of brands.

"Primark has been engaged for several years with NGOs and other retailers to review the Bangladeshi industry’s approach to factory standards. Primark will push for this review to also include building integrity.
Meanwhile Primark’s ethical trade team is at this moment working to collect information, assess which communities the workers come from, and to provide support where possible."

Searchers worked through the night to get through the jumbled mess of concrete with drills or their bare hands, passing water and flashlights to those pinned inside the building.

Police said the factory owners had ignored warnings not to allow their workers into the building after cracks were noticed on Tuesday.