Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir on Sunday said there was no proof of any “act of sabotage” behind the fire at Ashulia’s Tazreen Fashions Ltd, which claimed the lives of over hundred garment workers late last year.
He said there was no evidence to prove that the factory authorities would have “benefited” by deliberately setting the factory ablaze.
He made the comments after a meeting at the ministry over the current law and order situation.
The minister’s comment is in sharp contrast to the recent report of his ministry’s investigation team, which recommended suing 10 officials of Tazreen Fashions Ltd, including its owner Delwar Hossain, for the fire.
The committee in the report also maintained that it was an “act of sabotage”, but it failed to identify those responsible for the loss of 111 lives on Nov 24 last year.
A probe by the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) echoed the Home Ministry report.
When his attention was drawn over the issue, Alamgir said, “We are yet to found any evidence of any act of sabotage (in the case).”
When asked why the owner of the factory was yet to be arrested, he said, “Arrest is not the solution to any problem.”
“What we have considered here is whether there was any scope for the Tazreen authority to benefit by deliberately setting the factory on fire.”
The Minister, however, assured of taking action against the owners of the factory if found guilty.
He said the ministry and other organisations have already finished their investigation over the incident.
The Criminal Investigation Department of the police is currently investigating the case, he added.
‘Probing the Mohammadpur factory incident’
On Saturday’s fire at ‘Smart’ garment factory, the Minister said, “Yesterday’s incident is regrettable.”
He said the primary investigation shows the fire originated from an electrical short circuit.
The Minister said action would be taken following a “proper” investigation.
At least seven female workers of the readymade garment factory in Mohammadpur’s Beribadh area were killed in a stampede as fire broke out there on Saturday noon.
Father of one of the workers killed, Altaf Hossain, sued three owners of the BGMEA-unapproved factory on charges of negligence.bdnews24.com
