Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (Bils), a research organisation advocating labour issues, conducted the study on workplace safety level in January thru June 2007.

At least 395 workers in different sectors were killed or injured in accidents or due to violence at workplaces in Dhaka during the months of the survey as opposed to1,017 deaths or injuries in 2006.

The study, based on news items published in national dailies, found that 71 workers were killed, 315 were critically injured and 9 were raped in workplaces this year.

The annual workplace safety report for 2006 by the same organisation detected 1,017 deaths or injuries at workplaces in Dhaka. Among them, 147 were killed and 870 were seriously injured.

The study also found that the garment sector is still on top of the chart with accidents and violence while construction sector maintained the second position.

Among other sectors, the study also surveyed transport workers, shop workers, electric workers, cleaners and domestic workers.

Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, assistant executive director of Bils, said, "As the task force and the government took many tough measures to address various issues in the garment sector, the business owners become more aware and careful about any unpleasant incidents in their factories. And that reduced the number of accidents and violence in the sector."

"The level of awareness among the workers and owners has definitely improved than before. Though the safety level improved significantly in the garment sector within the first half of the year, the safety scenario in other sectors like construction or domestic help did not change much," he observed.

Though the number of incidents has reduced, the study found that the level of brutality was horrible, he said. "This is a good news to make us hopeful, but we should not be celebrating yet with this small improvement."

"We should wait and see if this safety [practice] sustains. The ball just started rolling. Nothing will be achieved unless other related sides concerned also join the process."

Wajedul Islam, coordinator of Sromik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), also said the situation has improved a bit in the garment sector, but the scenario remains the same in other sectors.

Amirul Haque, general secretary of National Garment Workers' Federation told Star City that many workers die due to violence and stampede in garment factories each year. But this year, despite many pending issues, the workers refrained from violent protests since there is a state of emergency in effect.

Many factory owners on the other hand, also made infrastructural improvements like installing emergency exits or widening staircases in factory buildings to avoid accidents during the period of this interim government. These things helped reduce the number of accidents as well as deaths in workplaces, he explained.