In last February 2010, Bangladesh was all over the media in local and international. It was not for any good news like "Musa Ibrahim- the first Bangladeshi conquers the Everest". It was for the fire in a local garment factory killed 21 workers and injured 50 others.
See what change.org says - "At the end of February in Bangladesh, home of one of the world's biggest garment manufacturing industry, 21 workers died and 50 more were injured in a fire in Garib & Garib Newaj factory, where clothing is made for several firms including H&M. (change.org, March 29, 2010)
International media were publishing the news relating all the buyers name working with Bangladesh factories. Which is no way good for the apparel industry in Bangladesh. Take a look what others international media says -
- THE TIMES OF INDIA
- CommodityOnline
- THE INDEPENDENT
- NO SWEAT
- Clean Cloths Campaign
- BBC News (25 February 2010)
- BBC News (24 February 2006)
- BBC News (7 January, 2005)
On Thursday 25th February 21 workers died in a fire at the Garib and Garib sweater factory in the southern district of Gazipur, burnt to death or choking on smoke. The fire started at 8.45pm, probably as an electrical short-circuit on the second floor of the seven-storey building, and quickly spread to other floors containing inflammable materials. A large stock of synthetic acrylic sweaters burned and gave off a thick toxic smoke. (Acrylic fibres contain the polycrylonitrile group of vinyl compounds, which may be carcinogenic.) At least 20 other workers were injured in the blaze, many with serious burns. As is usual in garment factories, the exit doors were kept locked by the bosses to prevent theft, as were internal doors;
After completion of our night-duty the factory authorities usually lock all the doors, so we couldn’t flee even after hearing the repeated fire alarm,’ said Hanufa Banu, a worker of the sewing section. (New Age, Feb 27 2010)
The fire hoses on each floor were declared useless by firemen who had tried to use them;
Fire-fighting equipment at the Garib & Garib sweater factory were of no use, said a fire official at Gazipur.
Abu Zafar Ahmed, Gazipur fire station officer said that there was no water in the factory's reserve tank.
"Although there were hosepipes on every floor, they were virtually useless." (bdnews24.com Feb 26th, 2010)
Health and Safety regulation are routinely ignored by management and are hardly enforced by government (many politicians have business interests in the industry); factory fires break out on a bi-monthly basis. Most are smaller incidents with regular injuries but fewer deaths, but over 240 workers have died in major fires since 1990;
Major RMG Fires Since '90
62 killed at KTS Garments, Chittagong 2006
32 killed at Saraka Garments, Dhaka 1990
24 killed at Shanghai Apparels, Dhaka 1997
23 killed at Macro Sweater, Dhaka 2000
23 killed at Chowdhury Knitwear, Narsingdi 2004
23 killed at Shan Knitting, Narayanganj 2005
22 killed at Lusaka Garments, Dhaka 1996
20 killed at Jahanara Fashion, Narayanganj 1997
12 killed at Globe Knitting, Dhaka 2000
Sources- National Garments Workers Federation and newspapers
(Daily Star - Feb 27, 2010)
We the Apparel Makers Blog want no more fire killing in workplace, if you feel the same, no matter you are working for the Bangladesh Apparel Industry or not raise your voice against fire killing in the factory. Cause this is embarrassing for the industry. Along with Govt., we all should be part of taking the action to prevent future disasters from happening, including the revision of existing health and safety regulations for the garment industry in Bangladesh.
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