Matalan has followed Primark in pledging to provide financial support tothose affected by the collapse of a building housing fashion suppliers in Bangladesh last week.

The fashion retailer has said it will provide “financial and other support to help those affected” after a building in Dhaka, which housed suppliers to Primark, Bonmarche and had links to Benetton, collapsed and killed at least 380 people.

Matalan has not been using any of the suppliers based in the Rana Plaza building but is understood to have ordered from there in the past.

The pledge came a day after Primark revealed it will pay compensation to the victims and urged other retailers which used suppliers in the building to follow suit. Primark said the support will include long-term aid for children who lost parents and financial help for those injured.

In a statement posted on its website, Matalan said: “We offer our condolences to all those affected by this tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with the whole community.

“Whilst we were not using any suppliers based in the building, as soon as we heard the news, we started working with our key contacts in Bangladesh to explore how we could support those involved.

“We can confirm that we are working closely with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Export Association and our local team in Bangladesh to provide financial and other support to help those affected.”

Matalan declined to give details of how much financial support it would provide.

Canadian retailer Loblaws, which had some of its own-brand Joe Fresh clothing manufactured at Rana Plaza, is also offering compensation.


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Primark 'deeply shocked' by fatal Bangladesh building collapse