[JURIST] A Bangladesh court on Tuesday postponed the trial of 18 people facing charges stemming from a 2013 garment factory collapse that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,100 people. Approximately 130 witnesses [Al Jazeera report] were set to take the stand during the trial to testify about allegations that the building was unsafe and additional floors were added to the building despite being a hazard. Defendants sought a delay to challenge their charges with a higher court. The proceedings have been postponed until October 26. Some are calling the postponement a delay of justice.

In July a Bangladesh court officially indicted [JURIST report] 41 people with murder stemming from the 2013 garment factory collapse. Initially charged with culpable homicide, the defendants were charged with murder [JURIST report] upon further investigation of their conduct. Investigators found that the defendants illegally added floors to the original five-story Rana Complex to compete in Bangladesh’s highly profitable garment exporting industry. Prior to the building’s collapse, the staff allegedly forced workers to stay in the unstable establishment despite concerns that the structure was visibly cracking. Earlier this year Bangladeshi workers gathered [JURIST report] on the third anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment factory disaster to demand justice for the incident.