Why culprits should not be punished

The High Court yesterday asked the government to explain within four weeks why it should not be directed to prosecute and punish people responsible for the fire at an Ashulia garment factory on Saturday.
Issuing the rule on a writ petition, the HC also asked Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA) to submit to it within two months a list of garment factories across the country, and a report on whether the authorities of the factories comply with the relevant laws to run those, and what steps they have taken to save the workers from fires.
The court also decided to form an independent committee to probe Saturday's fire, and ordered the chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela) to suggest names of some eminent persons within 10 days for constituting the probe committee.
An HC bench comprised of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo that issued the rule said it will form the committee on receiving the names of its members from the NHRC and Bela, as per a proposal from Dr Kamal Hossain, counsel for the petitioners.
In the rule, the court asked the authorities of Tazreen Fashions Ltd, where the fire broke out, to state in detail what compensations they have given to the families of the workers killed and the injured, and what measures they have taken to ensure treatment of the injured staffers.
It also asked the government to explain what steps it has taken to implement the HC directives issued in 2001 to ensure safety and security of garment workers, and to form an inspection committee to monitor whether the garments authorities abide by the relevant laws in running their factories.
Four rights organisations -- Ain O Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast), Nijera Kori, and Brac -- had jointly filed the writ petition.
During its hearing, Dr Kamal Hossain told the court that the entire nation is concerned at the incidents of fire in garment factories, and a consensus of the government and the judiciary is needed to bring people responsible for such incidents to book.