As with many low or middle-income countries, Bangladesh faces several challenges when it comes to building construction. Cities are densely populated and land is at a premium. Suitable building materials are scarce and there’s a shortage of structural engineers. Large parts of the country are also less than six metres above sea-level, which means its numerous rivers and waterways are prone to flooding. Prior to the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013, ensuring buildings were structurally sound was the responsibility of factory owners. It was not a formal part of auditing of suppliers facilities by brands and retailers. Since the disaster, Primark has been working alongside other brands, trade unions and NGOs in Bangladesh through the Accord on Fire and Building Safety to improve the structural integrity of factories. It has also implemented its own building inspection programme to assess factories, and provide engineering expertise and advice to take any corrective action as required.