We express profound grief for all workers and employees, who perished in the Friday’s deadly fire that broke at the six-story Sejan Juice factory of Hashem and Beverage Foods Ltd, a sister concern of Sajeeb Group at Rupganj in Narayanganj district.
At least 52 people were burned to death alive while 50 other received serious injuries in the devastating fire. Of them, forty-nine charred bodies beyond recognition have been kept at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital’s (DMCH) morgue. However, the authorities concerned must ensure the highest treatment of the injured people.
The death of so many people in the fire has shocked the country. It is a terrible fire incident indeed ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as many workers had plans to celebrate the occasion with their near and dear ones. In this regard, we want to recall the tragedy of Tazreen Fashions garment factory in Savar on 24 November 2012. At least 112 met the tragic end of their lives and more than 200 were injured in the deadly fire that broke at the Tazreen Fashions garment factory.
Factory owners must provide
appropriate compensation to
the family members of the victims
Apart from Tazreen Fashions tragedy, significant number of deadly fire incidents took places in capital Dhaka and other parts of the country in the last nine years. It is noted that when such devastating fire incident takes place anywhere in the country, government, experts and different non-government organisations come up with various suggestions and instructions, arrange seminar, symposium and dialogue that how and in what ways the fire incidents can be prevented. And they issue many directives to ensure building codes and fire safety regulations in factory buildings and other large establishments.
But all the directives and suggestion are ignored or remain ineffective and the worker safety issue is very poorly maintained due to inadequate follow-up. Besides, the authorities concerned and owners of industry do not inspect fire safety arrangements of factory buildings and other establishments regularly.
The government must compel the owners to maintain building codes strictly while constructing any building. Besides, the architects should design buildings, keeping the environment in mind, to ensure there are fire exits and are kept unlocked.
We think cause of the tragic deaths and the state of fire extinguishing system in the factory concerned need to be ascertained through a proper investigation to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future. Besides, the government and the factory owners must provide appropriate compensation to the family members of victims.
