Labour leaders demand rehabilitation of victims

Labour leaders have demanded rehabilitation and compensation for workers who were the victims of the Tazreen Fashion fire.

They said already 10 years have passed but families of the victims who died in the deadly fire incident at their workplace are yet to be compensated. Moreover, the workers who were severely injured are yet to be rehabilitated. They are now living an inhuman life which is below the minimum standard level.

The labour leaders said this at a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Thursday, organised by Sromik Nirapotta Forum marking the 10th anniversary of the tragic incident.

On November 24, 2012, a deadly fire erupted at the Tazreen Fashion factory in Ashulia on the outskirts of Dhaka, killing at least 117 labourers and severely injuring over 200 in the deadliest factory fire in the nation’s history.

Speakers at the human chain said even after 10 years of the incident, the factory officials who were responsible for the workplace deaths are yet to be punished. On the contrary, the law-enforcing personnel beat the workers in front of the press club when they were demanding justice for the killings and compensation and rehabilitation for the victims.

The labour leaders demanded a speedy trial for all workplace deaths as well as proper treatment, compensation and rehabilitation for all affected workers.

Mentionable, workers were trapped inside the nine-storey factory building when the blaze erupted, as all exit routes to the outside were locked

There was only one route - through the windows on the upper floors of that building since the windows on the lower floors were barred.

Workers who got stuck inside and could not escape were burnt to death by the fire.