Rising from Rana Plaza

Pervin Khatun lost her husband in the Rana Plaza disaster. “He was the sole breadwinner and I had no prior work experience,” she said. “But running this grocery store will give me a steady income and I can continue to support my family.”

Pervin received support to set up her grocery store as part of a project initiated by BRAC and Benetton Group. “To help those affected by the consequences of the tragedy overcome the trauma and find their way back to something like a normal life is a challenge to which we would like to contribute,” said the programme head of BRAC’s disaster, environment and climate change programme. The project has provided several survivors and victims’ family members with livelihood opportunities that can sustain them in the years to come. This has helped recipients like Pervin and others regain control of their own lives and that of their dependents. A number of amputees have also been provided with upper limb prosthetics. Those who have received both livelihood support and prosthetics have also simultaneously received psychosocial counselling to help them cope with the trauma.

In order for change to occur, the voices of the industry’s workers must be heard. To commemorate those who lost their lives and highlight the journeys of those who continue their struggle despite the challenges, BRAC and Benetton Group will be showcasing some of their stories. We hope that sharing stories from survivors about their hardships and motivation to persevere, even in the face of tragedy, will project a more holistic view of the issues relating to the industry both locally and globally.

Anushka Zafar is a senior officer and sub-editor at BRAC Communications.