Thirteen Charged in Bangladesh Factory Fire

NEW DELHI — More than a year after the devastating factory fire that killed 113 garment workers at Tazreen Fashions Ltd. in Bangladesh, police on Sunday issued a charge sheet naming 13 people.

The information has been presented before a judicial court in Dhaka, which will follow up on the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, police officials told WWD.

The charge sheet named Tazreen Fashions Ltd. managing director Delowar Hossain, his wife Mahmuda Akter, chairman of the company Mahmuda Akter, plus security guards, an engineer and the firm’s managers. The decision on the trial and the arrest warrants is expected to be made by the court on Dec. 31, added the police officials.

The fire, which ravaged the factory and also injured more than 100 people, has called world attention to the plight of Bangladesh’s 3.8 million garment workers. After the event that took place on Nov. 24, 2012, Tazreen has become symbolic of the condition of workers in the garment industry and the high-handed attitude of some factory owners and managers. Factory owners have said, as well, it has been a wake-up call for them to improve conditions and check their own management skills and the security situation of their facilities.

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