No one knows fate of victims, families

This file photo, left, shows the collapsed nine-storey building of Spectrum Sweater Factory in Savar that killed 61 workers and injured 84 others on April 11, 2005. Two of the Injured workers, right, participating in a rally at Muktangon in the city yesterday. National Garment Workers' Federation organised the event commemorating the tragedy.Photo: STAR

Nure Alam still feels pain on his left hand, which had to be amputated due to the injury he suffered when the nine-storied building of Spectrum Sweater Factory Limited in Savar collapsed on April 11, 2005.
It feels as if blood is still gushing out from the wound, said Nure while walking at a rally yesterday, adding, “Doctors told me that the pain would persist until my death.”
He was participating in a garment workers' rally organised by National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF) commemorating six years of the tragic collapse that killed 61 workers and injured 84 others.
With time, Nure realised yet another impact of his injury. Every joint in his body aches from time to time, sometimes becoming unbearable.
Mentionable, the owner of the factory, parts of which was built illegally, got acquittal long ago during the regime of the immediate past caretaker government.
Nure, however, is luckier than some of the others injured as he got the job of a timekeeper, keeping a tally of the time employees come and go, of a private office on special consideration for Tk 6,000 a month.
“In the last two months I purchased medicine worth Tk 3,500. I have to be on medication for the rest of my life as new diseases are emerging with age,” said a 45-year-old Nure.
Only 10 to 14 of the injured workers were rehabilitated like Nure but the fate of the rest remains unknown.
Even NGWF does not have any idea, neither about what happened to them nor the status of family members of the deceased.
Though the company gave primary compensation to both the injured and the deceased, Nure said compensation worth Tk 1 or Tk 2 lakh is inadequate for a life affected forever.
According to a NGWF's report, based on newspaper reports, 50 major accidents occurred since 1990, mostly of factory building collapse and fire breakouts, leaving 438 dead and over 3,000 injured.
“Safe workplace is the right of a garment worker. Owners, the government and buyers must act responsibly to ensure this right,” said lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha.
According to newspaper reports, most of the accidents took place in industries, which were non-compliant with existing rules.
“What happened to me is beyond compensation. Compensation has nothing to do with justice. I want justice,” said Nure as he walked away with a black flag.
He knows that the factory owner already resumed operation in Savar in full swing.