Keraniganj Small Garments Workers Welfare Union, Aganagar Small Garments Workers Welfare Union, Charkaliganj Small Garment Workers and Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) jointly organized a human chain program in the memory of the victims of the terrible fire at Sezan Juice Factory of Hashem Group at Karnogop area of Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Representatives of trade unions and the BLF participating in the human chain program demanded compensation for workers killed and injured in the accident in accordance with ILO Convention 121. In addition, the owners are blamed for the deaths of workers in accidents due to the negligence of the owners at different times. They called on all employer authorities to ensure safety and security in all workplaces without delay. The workers in the human chain want to ensure the safety of the workers through various slogans.

Meanwhile, ZM Kamrul Anam, Secretary General, Bangladesh Labor Foundation (BLF) expressed deep grief in a press release in memory of the workers killed in the horrific fire at the Sezan Juice Factory. He said it was unfortunate that a large group like Hashem Group did not have a fire extinguishing system and no exit route at the Sezan Juice Factory and it could never be accepted. Moreover, the number of casualties has increased due to workers being kept locked at various gates of the factory. Organized fires are not an accident when workers are locked up and made to work like this, it is a homicide. He added that various sources and local people said that most of the casualties in the factory were children, teenagers and women. The government’s initiative to eliminate all forms of child labour by 2025 is being undermined by the employment of child labor in these factories. Moreover, after the Rana Plaza collapse and the Tazreen fire, with the help and initiative of the government and various stakeholders, the way we were able to restore the image of the country’s industry with great difficulty, this incident has once again destroyed the image of our country’s industry. He demanded a proper and impartial investigation into the incident and appropriate punishment for the culprits.

In a statement, he demanded free and proper medical treatment for the injured workers and speedy compensation to the families of the dead and injured in accordance with ILO Convention 121. He appealed to the owners and all concerned authorities to ensure all kinds of safety measures including occupational health and safety of the workers in all the factories so that such accidents do not happen again in the future. He also called for more surveillance by the government.