Sheema Oxygen Limited has paid Tk 1o lakh each in compensation to the families of those killed in the boiler explosion at a plant of the company in Chattogram’s Sitakunda.
The company has also paid Tk 5 lakh each to workers who have lost their limbs in the blast and Tk 2 lakh each to workers who have suffered other injuries, officials said.
Meanwhile, the investigation of the explosion is almost complete, investigators said on Thursday, adding that it will take two more days to present a clear picture of the incident.
Iftekhar Uddin Rubel, executive officer of Sheema Group of Companies, handed over the compensation cheques to Sitakundu Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahadat Hossain at the upazila parishad hall on Thursday evening.
Iftekhar Uddin Rubel said, “Tk 20,000 were given immediately for the burial shroud of those who died in the accident. Apart from this, each family of the deceased is being given Tk 10 lakh.
“Injured workers will continue to be paid until they recover. Their medical expenses will be borne by the authorities and if the family members of the deceased are interested, they will be given jobs in Sheema Group.”
UNO Shahadat Hossain said compensation cheques for all the victims have been deposited with the upazila administration. Families can collect their cheques from the UNO office at any time.
Investigation almost complete
A horrific blast on March 4 at Sheema Oxyzen’s plant killed seven people and injured another 30. The explosion shook an area of one square kilometre around the plant.
The following day, an eight-member investigation committee, headed by Chattogram’s Additional District Magistrate Rakib Hasan, visited the factory.
“We found unapproved cylinders of carbon dioxide and nitrogen at the factory in addition to oxygen cylinders,” Rakib said after visiting the site.
Speaking on the progress of the investigation on Thursday, he said, “We are trying to get a clear picture of the incident. In the meantime, we have conducted several on-site investigations and collected various data. It will take two working days to provide a more accurate picture. Initially, some irregularities were found in the investigation.”
He also said investigators have received many complaints against the factory management. “The negligence of the owners is being investigated.”
According to sources at the Department of Environment, Sheema Oxygen Factory was operating without an expired licence.
Rokeya Begum, the wife of Abdul Quader, who died in the incident, filed a case against 16 people with the Sitakunda police station over the incident.
According to the case statement, unnamed officials working at the Sheema Oxygen Plant, along with named ones, have been accused of willful negligence that led to the explosion.
The explosion occurred due to hazardous production and supply of gas without taking proper precautionary measures and lack of trained personnel to deal with accidents immediately, including not having a regular check-up and maintenance system, said the case statement.
According to police sources, the accused in the case includes Sheema Oxygen Limited’s Managing Director Mamun Uddin, Directors Parvez Hossain Sontu, Ashrafuddin Bappi and Manager Abdul Alim.
