Bangladesh factory owners arrested
2013-01-30 15:01
Dhaka - Two owners of a Bangladesh garment factory where
a weekend fire killed seven workers were arrested on charges of negligence, a
police spokesperson said Wednesday.
Zakir Ahmed, chairperson of the Smart Export Garment
factory in Dhaka, and Mohammad Sharif Ahmed, its managing director, were
detained on Tuesday night in the capital and accused of failing to comply with
fire safety regulations, said Gazi Rabiul Islam, an assistant commissioner of
police.
A fire broke out on Saturday at the factory, killing
seven workers and injuring 15.
Altaf Hossain, the father of one of the victims, filed a
complaint with police charging that an emergency gate was locked when the fire
broke out.
About 500 people were working on the first floor of the
three-storey building when the fire broke out at the factory, which lacked a
safety certificate, fire officials said.
Police were seeking to arrest a third owner and were
considering charges against the remaining two owners.
The suspects would be questioned first to determine
whether additional charges, including murder, would be filed, said Mollah
Nazrul Islam, deputy commissioner of police.
The factory made clothing for international retailers,
including Bershka and Lefties of Spain's Inditex Group, Sol's and Scott &
Fox of France.
In November, 112 workers were killed in a fire at another
garment factory in Dhaka, which raised questions about the safety of
Bangladeshi factories.
The garment industry accounts for nearly 79% of
Bangladesh's $24bn in export earnings.
Most of its products go to Europe and the US.
- SAPA
