Today (24 November 2020) marks 8 years of the Tazreen Fire Tragedy.
It was on 24 November 2012 that a fire broke out in the Ashulia-based Tazreen Fashion – the fire was believed to have been caused by a short circuit – in the outskirts of capital Dhaka, which reportedly killed at least 112 people and left more than 200 injured.
According to reports, scores of workers were trapped inside the nine-storey building as all exit routes were allegedly locked from outside.
Those who were stuck inside and couldn’t escape were killed by the smoke and those who managed to escape by jumping from the windows of the third and fourth floors of the building, sustained serious injuries.
It may be mentioned here that the unemployed and the injured workers of the Tazreen Fashion have since 16 September, been holding demonstration to press home their list of three demands which include compensation for the injured and instituting an amendment to a section of the compensation law, long-term medical treatment to the injured and dignified and practical rehabilitation.
On Sunday, the police prevented workers of Tazreen Fashions from marching towards the Labour Ministry and hold demonstrations there.
According to media reports, police put up barricades near the Secretariat to stop the workers who have been staging demonstrations in front of Dhaka’s National Press Club since 16 September to press their three-point demand.
