Bangladesh Factory Fire

Holding a photograph of Fatema Begum, Sudan Mia had desperately been looking for his daughter all around the burnt remains of a factory but in vain.

A massive fire broke out at a six-story factory by the name of Hashem Food and Beverage factory in Narayanganj's Rupganj, Bangladesh on 8 July 2021 at around 5 pm and raged for more than a day. At least 52 people were killed and over 50 others were injured in this fire. According to the fire service, it is suspected that the fire originated on the ground floor of the building and quickly spread to all the other floors due to the presence of highly inflammable plastic and chemicals all around. They also claimed that the building lacked all proper fire safety measures.

About 180 to 190 workers were at the factory when the fire erupted. 49 workers died after being trapped on the third floor with its only exit padlocked. Three others also died after jumping off the six-story building in order to save themselves from the fire. Witnesses and survivors claimed that the victims could have survived if the authorities took prompt action and if the third floor was not under lock and key. Fire official Abdullah Al Arefin said each floor was accessible by two stairways which some workers couldn't reach because the blaze had cut them off. Some people managed to escape to the roof via the stairs and were rescued, but others could not because a door leading to the roof was locked. He said many of those trapped had jumped from windows to escape the flames.

Eighteen firefighting units on the spot were struggling to control the fire while hundreds of distraught relatives and workers waited anxiously outside the food factory as it kept raging. The bodies which have been recovered so far are charred beyond recognition, leaving their identification only to DNA tests. Crowds of families and friends of the ones who died kept increasing outside the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue, their screams and cried rending the air.

“I hope Tuli is just missing”, said the sister of a 15-year-old worker as she along with several other people frantically searched for their loved ones. Another victim, Mohammed Ali, who worked as a senior operator in the building, called up his younger brother before succumbing to the flames. “Forgive me if I’ve ever done anything wrong”, were his last words.

The owner of the factory Abul Hashem and four of his sons were among the eight people who were arrested by the police and charged with murder. A separate inquiry has also been set up for the use of child labor at the factory as many underage workers had been employed although the owner has denied any responsibility for it. Prior to his arrest, he also said that “workers’ carelessness" such as a discarded cigarette could have started the fire.

Apart from the Home Ministry probe team, several other agencies and the local administration have also started an investigation into the case. Public sentiments have been increasingly volatile after the news of the fire broke out. Enraged relatives of the victims reportedly attacked vehicles outside the building. The main opposition party BNP has also laid the blame on the ruling party Awami League. Even after setting up reforms, Bangladesh is no stranger to deadly fires and disasters as many such incidents have occurred in the past, taking away thousands of lives.

---