The fan factory in Gazipur where at least 10 people were killed in a devastating fire on Sunday night had been operating without approval of authorities concerned. Besides, the factory also did not have adequate safety measures. Authorities concerned made the disclosure after an inspection to the factory on Monday, day after the fire incident.
Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said the owners of the factory did not have the fire license while the premises lacked adequate fire safety measures. Fire Service and Civil Defence Joint Director General Farid Ahmed said, “The factory authorities did not obtain any permit from the Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishment.”
“They rented a local building and carried out operations at great risk under a tin shed on the second floor”, he said and continued as saying, “No rules were followed in setting up the factory. They didn't even apply to the factory authority for permission." The fire broke out at the 'Luxury Fan' factory located on the second floor of the three-storey Rouza High-tech building at Kashorita in Sadar upazila. Meanwhile, the bodies of the 10 victims were identified on Monday and handed over to their families and relatives. The bodies were handed over to their families after collecting DNA samples.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Shahinur Islam, head of an investigation committee formed by the district administration, said the postmortem examinations were carried out at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital before they were handed over to their families.
The victims were identified as– Tariqul Islam of Mymensingh; Limon Islam and Foysal Khan of Dinajpur; Uttam Chandra Das of Sadar upazila; Shamim and Rashed from Gazipur’s Sreepur; Faridul Islam of Rangpur; Sajal Mia of Narsingdi; Pervez of Naogaon; and Yusuf Mia of Brahmanbaria. Moreover, a five-member committee was formed to look into the fire incident. It has been asked to submit its report within seven working days.
