1st anniversary today

Bangladesh National Council (BNC) of Textile, Garment and Leather Workers and other trade unions will observe the day as 'Safe Workplace Day' to mark the tragedy.

Since 1990, a total of 425 workers were killed and 2399 others injured in 24 accidents that included building collapse and fire, said a report of BNC.

At a roundtable yesterday, politicians, trade union leaders, human rights activists and members of civil society said most of the garment factory buildings are vulnerable to collapse at any time like the Spectrum building at Savar as these are not constructed properly.

Terming the garment factories "death trap", they said there is no security for 20 lakh workers at their workplace in 40,481 garment factories as most of them are built ignoring the building code.

They suggested formation of an expert committee comprising representatives of government, owners and workers to identify the factories with faulty construction in the greater interest of garment workers.

The roundtable titled 'We want a safe workplace, not a death wall' was organised jointly by BNC and Najya Banijya Jote at the National Press Club.

Speaking at the roundtable, Awami League Presidium Member Tofael Ahmed said indifference of owners and authorities concerned is primarily responsible for the accidents, while the number of death increases due to lack of equipment for salvage operations.

He called for trust fund for the workers and build separate industrial enclave for garment factories.

"Though most factories are not built as per the rules, the government did not take any steps to identify the risky buildings," said Roy Ramesh Chandra, general secretary of BNC.

Blaming the Spectrum owner for the tragic accident, Skop Co-ordinator Dr Wazedul Islam Khan demanded Tk 7 lakh as compensation for each family of the dead.

Injured Spectrum worker Jahangir Alam said they did not get proper treatment and compensation in due time after the tragedy.

BNC President Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury presided over the roundtable where Human Rights Activist Dr Hamida Hossain, BGMEA Vice-president Shahadat Hossain, JSD General Secretary Jafar Sajjad, Workers' Party General Secretary Bimal Biswas, Ganatantri Party President Nurul Islam, Abul Basar of Trade Union Kendra, Sultan Uddin Ahmed and Kamrul Anam of BILS and injured Spectrum workers Nur-e Alam and Milon also spoke.