Value of human lives
The Savar garments factory tragedy reminds me of the period I worked for a chemical industry abroad (GPIC) in ammonia, methanol area. This complex is like the size of our Zia Fertiliser Factory at Ashuganj where I worked for the period from 10-10-75 to 31-12-84. At the GPIC like at Ashuganj the main raw material is natural gas which is very inflammable and could cause any disaster of high magnitude. The main concern at the GPIC is personal safety which is the most important factor above all. The GPIC spends a huge sum of money for safety of the employees, apart from payment of salaries. Due to the safety precaution and awareness the company was awarded international safety awards several times.
In the context of Savar tragedy, the question arises, why is the life of a Bangladeshi worker so cheap? If the life of a Bangladeshi worker is so valuable in an Asian country like ours, why shouldn't it be so in a Bangladeshi industry? The owner of the Spectrum is not, of course, a poor person.
Can't we honour the principle "Accident does not occur, it is caused in industries as well as in our houses and in any working environment." However, matters will improve only if the employees are trained on their safety needs and the owners strictly follow the safety standards.
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