Bangladeshi deadly fire: Managers “padlocked doors” to prevent workers escaping

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26 Nov 2012

by admin

Investigations in to the deadly Bangladeshi garment factory incident which claimed the lives of 111 people have revealed that two disgruntled workers deliberately set fire to the building and managers prevented workers from escaping the raging fires even after the fire alarms went off stating that alarm was “not working” properly.

Many workers escaped death from leaping out of the windows. Last year the factory was placed under orange category when Wal-Mart investigators reported that the working conditions were “deplorable’.
The factory didn’t have any emergency exits which resulted in many deaths. Fire fighters who were rushed to the scene were unable to battle the raging fires due to lack of fire hydrants and water nearby. The fire fighters had to negotiate through traffic-infested streets to negotiate their rickety-fire engines which are not equipped to fight fires of such magnitude, an eye witness from Bangladesh told The Guardian Express of Los Angeles.
Many bodies still remained at hospital morgues because they were burnt beyond identification.
Rescue operations were called off on Sunday night after rescuers have discovered 111 charred bodies. At the time of the incident it is reported 500-600 workers were inside the facility.
On Monday an estimated 15,000 garment factory workers took to the streets blocking traffic and pelting stones at the gutted factory demanding an immediate justice for the victims. It is said the managers of the factory padlocked the factory doors to prevent employees from escaping even when blood-curdling screams were heard.
The factory exports T-shirts to European countries.
An employee identified as Yasmin told reporters that fire extinguishers were kept as only “show case” and none of them worked. The factory is owned by Tarzeen Fashions Lts, a subsidiary of The Tuba group that produces clothes for U.S retail giant, Wal-Mart.
The company was established in 2010 and says that its annual turnover is $ 35 million.