Mehedi Hasan Saikat from Narayanganj
The fire service launched the third-day rescue operation in the incident of the devastating fire that broke out at the six-storey building of Hashem Foods Ltd. in Karnagop area of Rupganj in Narayanganj.
The operation started from 8 am on Saturday. However, no body was recovered till this report was filed. So far 52 bodies have been recovered. The fire was brought under control after 22 hours on Friday evening by the joint effort of 18 units of the fire service.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian has said that legal action would be taken if the owner or anyone involved in inspecting the safety of the workers of Sezan Juice Factory, an affiliate of Sajib Group in Rupganj, is found negligent.
She made the statement on Friday night after visiting the site of the fire in Rupganj. She said that a committee would be formed by the Ministry of Labor and Employment to look into the cause of the accident. Earlier, a separate inquiry committee led by the Joint Inspector General (Safety) of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments under the Ministry of Labor was formed to look into the matter.
She further said that she would make all necessary arrangements for the welfare of the victim workers of this tragic accident. It will be investigated whether there was any child labor in this factory. If evidences are found, action will be taken against the employer in accordance with labor law, she added.
The state minister added that after the identities of the workers killed in the fire are confirmed, each family would be given Tk 200,000 from Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Foundation fund under the Ministry of Labor and the workers undergoing treatment would be given Tk 50,000 medical assistance.
Mohammad Masud Rabbi, DNA examiner of the forensic department of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital, told the media on Saturday morning that so far they have collected samples from 35 claimants against 26 bodies. He said that hopefully within a month they will be able to identify the bodies.
Meanwhile, the head of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Dhaka Medical College (DMCH), Dr. Mohammad Maksud has suggested immediate burial of the bodies.
They have preserved the ribs of the bodies as a sample to find out the identities of the victims through DNA. He said that they would give suggestions and advice to the police in this regard. According to the government decision, the final decision will be made regarding the burial of the bodies.
The roof of the building began to collapse on Saturday after the fire incident. District Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy Director Abdullah Al Arefin said the building has been declared dangerous. The fire caused a lot of damage to the building and, therefore, it could collapse any time.
Eight people, including the chairman of Sajeeb Group, his four sons and the CEO of the group were arrested on Saturday in connection with the fire incident.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Saturday said, owner, several directors and managers of Sajeeb Group have been arrested by the police. If anyone is found negligent, they will be punished.
He also said that a committee has been formed by the Home Ministry to investigate the fire incident.
The fire service personnel could break the gate but could not break the lock of the gate.
They said that the gate was in front of the stairs and the elevator. If the workers could open it, everyone could come out but no one could open this huge lock.
