Bangladeshi Factory Owner arrested after 52 People die in Fire

The owner of a factory in Bangladesh was arrested after at least 52 people died in a fire at the building.

Abul Hashem, the owner of Hashem Foods, and four of his sons were among eight people arrested on July 10, 2021.

According to police, they face murder charges.

It was reported that many of those who died were trapped inside the building because the main exit was locked.

Among the victims were children. A separate inquiry into the use of child labour has been launched.

Bangladesh Labour Minister Monnujan Sufian said she had spoken to survivors as young as 14.

She said: “If child labour is proved, we will take action against the owner and the inspectors.”

Prior to his arrest, Mr Hashem claimed that “workers’ carelessness” such as a discarded cigarette could have been the cause of the fire.

The fire broke out on the night of July 8, 2021, on the ground floor of the six-storey factory in the town of Rupganj.

Emergency crews said the majority of victims had been trapped on the third floor.

Fire official Abdullah Al Arefin said each floor was accessible by two stairways which some workers could not reach because the fire had blocked them off.

He revealed some people were able to get to the roof and were rescued. However, others could not because a door leading to the roof was locked.

Abdullah said many of the trapped workers had jumped from windows to escape the blaze.

The fire was fuelled by chemicals and plastics inside the factory.

It burned for nearly 24 hours before it was put out.

Over 50 people were injured and families have been looking for their missing loved ones.

Laizu Begum said her 11-year-old nephew was among those who remain missing.

She said: “We heard the door of the floor where my nephew worked was padlocked.

“Then we realised, after seeing how big the fire was, that he is probably dead.”

Survivors and families revealed that child workers at the factory were being paid 17p per hour.

Bilal Hossain said he had been to the hospital morgue to claim the remains of his 14-year-old daughter Mitu Akter.

He said: “I sent my baby girl to die. How will I tell her mother?”

Bilal added that the factory still owed his daughter wages.