Finally DNA tests to identify Tampaco victims, another dies
Relatives of nine of the 11 workers, who have been missing or unidentified after the disaster at packaging factory Tampaco Foils Ltd, yesterday gave DNA samples to identify their loved ones.
They gave blood and saliva samples at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in the capital, but the relatives of two failed to come to Dhaka from their villages to give samples.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the factory explosion and fire rose to 35 as another burn victim died yesterday.
Twenty-four people were killed on the spot and more than 70 injured as the factory collapsed following a big explosion and fire on September 10, three days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
As of yesterday all 35 deceased were identified but seven bodies which were burnt beyond recognition were recovered. Of the 11 missing or unidentified, four are presumed to be remaining under the rubble.
Talking to The Daily Star, Suman Bhakta, a sub-inspector of Tongi Police Station, said, “Usually it takes three months to get DNA test results after submission of samples. In this case, we will try to get them sooner.”
Visiting the CID office, Alauddin Ahmed, who came in search of his brother-in-law Zahirul Islam, said, “The bodies were burnt beyond recognition. DNA tests are our last hope.”
DEATH TOLL 35
Hossain Ahmed, 26, who had been unconscious since the day of the blast, died in a hospital in Dhaka yesterday afternoon, raising the number of deaths to 35, said SI Suman Bhakta.
He was the son of Hasan Ali from Sylhet's Golapganj upazila and a worker at Tampaco. Hossain was hospitalised on the day of the blast after suffering over 70 percent burns.
Gazipur Deputy Commissioner (DC) SM Alam said his family took away his body, and the district administration gave them Tk 20,000 for his burial.
CAUSE OF BLAST STILL UNKNOWN
The five investigation committees, working on the explosion and fire, are yet to find the cause of the disaster. Rescue work is still underway.
Probe officers said they could not inspect the insides of the factory rubble yet.
“We have collected valuable information. Because of rescue work, we have not been able to see the insides,” said Rana Akbar Haidari, chief of the probe body formed by Titas Gas, which was accused by the factory management and workers of providing weak gas pipelines triggering the explosion.
The Titas investigator could not give any specific insights into the cause of the incident, but hoped that the committee will be able to complete the investigation in time and submit a report.
Four other probe committees have also been formed.
The National Workers Federation of Gazipur unit and Bangladesh Agriculture Farm Federation yesterday demonstrated and submitted a memorandum to the Gazipur DC, seeking arrest of factory owner Makbul Hossain Lechu and proper compensations for the victim families.
Meanwhile, three rights organisations filed a writ petition with the High Court on September 19, seeking its directives on the authorities concerned to give sufficient compensations to the victims and legal actions against the people responsible for the tragedy.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) filed the petition, petitioners' lawyer Sharif Bhuiyan told The Daily Star.
The HC fixed September 26 for passing an order on the petition.