Thousands of angry textile workers have demonstrated in the outskirts of Dhaka after a fire swept through a garment workshop at the weekend, killing more than 100 people in Bangladesh’s worst-ever factory blaze.
The fire has put a spotlight on global retailers that source clothes from Bangladesh, where the cost of labour is as little as $37 a month. Rights groups have called on big- brand firms to sign up to a fire safety programme.
Workers from Tazreen Fashions and residents blocked roads yesterday and forced the closure of other factories , demanding that those responsible for the disaster be punished.
Police and officials said narrow exits in the nine-storey building trapped workers inside, killing 111 people and injuring more than 150.
Working conditions at Bangladeshi factories are notoriously poor, with little enforcement of safety laws. Overcrowding and locked fire doors are common.
At least 500 people have died in clothing factory accidents in Bangladesh since 2006. – (Reuters)