NEWS: Garment workers' death condoled

Staff Reporter

Different organisations yesterday expressed shock at the death of 21 garment workers in a fire at a sweater factory in Bhogra of Gazipur on Thursday.

Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) expressed a deep grief for the incident and took decision to give Tk 2 lakh for each family of the deceased. The organisation will also give free medical treatment to injured workers.The BGMEA has taken decision to provide employment in garments factories for the family members of the 21 dead workers. It has declared 3-day mourning programmes.

Leaders of National Garments Workers Federation yesterday at a protest rally at Muktangan demanded compensation of Tk 5 lakh for each of the deceased workers family. Terming the incident as 'killing of workers', they demand arrest the owner of the factory.

Amirul Haque Amin presided over the programme which was addressed, among others, by Safia Parvin, Faruk Khan and Sultana Akter.

Shirin Akter, president of Bangladesh Jatiya Srimak Jote and its general secretary Md Nur Khan, Umme Hasan Jhalmal, president and Mahbuba Akter Lipi, general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Nari Sramik Jote, Rokeya Sultana Anju, presidentand SM Masud Rana, general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Garments Sramik Jote in a joint statement yesterday expressed a deep shock at the death of garments workers at Gazipur.

They demanded exemplary punishment of the owners of the garments who did not pay heed to secure its workers.

Expressing grief at the incident, Matiur Rahman Nizami yesterday in a statement demanded compensation for the family of the victims.

He wished, the owners of garments factories would take steps to enlarge its gate so that the workers could easily move.

Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim, peer of Charmonai and ameer of Islami Andolon Bangladesh also expressed deep shock at the incident.

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Bangladesh Society for The Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) in separate statements expressed shock and demanded compensation for the victims' family. 

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