Punish the culprits, compensate victims

Victims of the 2012 tragic fire at Tazreen Fashions yesterday demanded exemplary punishment of those responsible for the gruesome fire and casualties.

Speakers at a sit-in programme in front of the Jatiya press Club also demanded rehabilitation and proper compensation, said a press release. Victims of the fire incident have been holding the sit-in programme for the last 14 days.

Injured worker Hasi Begum read out a written statement.

On November 24, 2012, fire broke out at Tazreen Fashions Limited, a garments factory in Ashulia, some 35km from Dhaka city.

When the workers attempted to leave the building, the management locked it from outside, she said, adding many jumped through the windows of the building to save their lives. Many workers broke their limbs and became physically disabled.

"We become unable to do any work and therefore have been passing days in hardship," said Hasi.

"Although various government and non-government organisations including RMG buyers had pledged to extend help for affected workers after the incident, we did not get proper compensation," she added, alleging  BGMEA and other organisations of depriving the victims of treatment.

She threatened to hold tougher programmes like hunger strike if the government fails to ensure proper compensation.

President of Garments' Sramik Oikya Forum Mosharefa Mishu, acting secretary of Garments Sramik Oikya Forum Shahidul Islam Sabuj, and secretary of Garment's Sramik Trade Union Center Jolly Talukdar expressed their solidarity to the demands of the protesters.

Some 113 workers were killed in the fire and several hundred people injured in the incident. Two cases were filed with Ashulia Police Station against the factory owner and others. Police submitted charge sheets in both the cases against 13 people on September 2015.

After the incident, the retailers and brands working in association with the factory paid victims compensation under pressure from the International Labour Organization.