The bodies of the Shezan juice factory fire victims would be handed over to their families from Wednesday.   The identities of 45 workers killed in the factory fire have been confirmed through DNA tests, officials said Tuesday. These bodies were recovered in an unrecognisably charred state.  Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Claimants found for 40 bodies out of 48, after 56 families submit DNA samples Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mostain Billah said some of the bodies were kept in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue. It was learned that 24 bodies kept at Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue will be handed to families at noon Wednesday. The rest were kept at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital morgue to be handed over in the next two days. Also read: PM monitoring developments after factory fire in Rupganj: Quader However, identities of three of the 48 bodies recovered in the same state from the same floor could not be ascertained from DNA matches. Deputy Commissioner Mostain Billah further said that the families of the listed 45 deceased will be given Tk 50,000 for the burial and funeral.

A court in Narayanganj on Monday granted bail to Sajeeb Group’s chairman MA Hashem and his two sons -- Hashem Bin Hashem and Tareq Ibrahim – in the case over the Rupganj factory fire that killed 52 workers. Narayanganj Senior District and Sessions Judge Anisur Rahman passed the order during a virtual hearing on the bail petition for the six accused of the case who were in jail, said prosecutor advocate Moniruzzaman. The court, however, suspended the bail petition of the Group CEO and its Deputy General Manager, he added. On July 10, Narayanganj police arrested Md Abul Hashem, chairman of the group, his four sons -- Hashem Bin Hashem, Tareq Ibrahim, Tawsif Ibrahim and Tanjim Ibrahim-- and its CEO Shahan Sha Azad, DGM Mamunur Rashid and head of admin Salauddin in connection with the tragic fire in the factory owned by the Group. Also read: Rupganj fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, sons among 8 put on remand Police filed the case with Rupganj police station against the eight people and many unknown others following the massive fire in the factory. On July 14, a Narayanganj court sent to jail six of the accused, including Abul Hashem, on completion of a four-day remand and granted bail to Hashem’s two sons Tawsif Ibrahim and Tanjib Ibrahim, on grounds that they study abroad and do not have any ownership of the company. Following the case filed by police, the district's Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments filed a separate case against the Group’s owner and DGM at the labour court under section 80 of the labour law. Also read: Death toll from Rupganj factory fire jumps to 52 

A Narayanganj court  on Wednesday sent to jail six accused, including Abul Hashem, owner of Hashem Foods Ltd., on completion of a four-day remand in a case over last week’s devastating factory fire in Rupganj. Hashem two sons accused in the case - Hashem Bin Hashem and Tareq Ibrahim -were among those sent to jail. Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Claimants found for 40 bodies out of 48, after 56 families submit DNA samples However, the court granted bail to Hashem’s two other sons Tawsif Ibrahim and Tanjib Ibrahim, on grounds that they study abroad and don't have any ownership of the company.

Unicef has mourned the children who were killed in a recent factory fire in Narayanganj's Rupganj. "We offer our deepest sympathies to the families of those who died, were injured, or remain unaccounted for," said Unicef Representative in Bangladesh Tomoo Hozumi Sunday. With over 50 casualties reported, as many as 16 or more of these may be children, Unicef said. Also read: Narayanganj fire: ITUC deeply concerned over 52 workers' death "As families continue to search for their missing children, Unicef is working with the government to dispatch social workers to support children and families in Rupganj," said Hozumi. "This tragic incident brings to light yet again that despite laws that should protect them, many children in Bangladesh are not only working, but they are working in hazardous conditions, he added. According to the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, over 4 million children are working, and more than 3 million of these children are trapped in the worst forms of child labour that involve hazardous working conditions. Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Claimants found for 40 bodies out of 48, after 56 families submit DNA samples "The horrific deaths and suffering, which could have been avoided, are a stark reminder that all stakeholders must act now to protect children and must enforce compliance with the Children Act 2013, as well as child labour and occupational safety laws," Hozumi said. At least 52 people died in a fire Thursday at a factory in Narayanganj's Rupganj, the latest industrial disaster in the country. The International Trade Union Confederation Bangladesh Council Saturday called for making the results of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments' work on anomalies of the factory – especially the recruitment of child workers – public.

The High Court said on Sunday it will wait until identification of the bodies recovered from the burnt factory in Rupganj before giving its ruling on compensation to the families of the victims. The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim described Thursday’s massive fire at Hashem Foods factory a as terrible in responding to a writ petition seeking compensation for proper treatment of the injured and to families of the deceased. At least 52 people died and many were injured in the fire, one of the country’s worst factory fire. The writ petition was filed on behalf of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal and Services Trust, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (BELA) and Safety and Rights Society. Lawyers ZI Khan Panna, Sara Hossain, SM Rezaul Karim, Anik R Haque and Shahinuzzaman stood for the petition. Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas represented the state. Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Claimants found for 40 bodies out of 48, after 56 families submit DNA samples After the lawyer Sara Hossain presented the writ, the court said that the concern was legitimate, but the issues needed to be given a reasonable time for the remedy. The judge said of the 52 bodies found, only one was handed over to family as it has been identified. The process would take at least 21 days and the compensation amount could be determined once the bodies were identified. About the transparency of the investigation Justice Enayetur said that the court was observing how it goes. During this time, the HC also asked the Attorney General to contact the Health Secretary and the Labour Secretary to look into the treatment of the injured. The petition sought directions to pay Tk 1 crore to the families of each worker killed in the fire and Tk 35 lakh to each injured. However, Tk 10 lakh for the deceased and Tk 5 lakh for the injured have been sought as interim compensation. Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Tk 50,00 medical assistance provided to injured The fire broke out at the factory located in Karnagop area of Rupganj upazila on July 8 at 6 pm. Eighteen units of fire service including Demra and Kanchan brought the terrible fire under control after a 29-hour effort. However, 52 lives were lost during this period. Many workers were injured. A case has been registered under sections 302, 326, 325, 323, 324 and 307 for murder and murder accusation. Eight people, including Sajeeb Group Chairman, Abul Hashem were arrested in the case. On July 10, a Narayanganj court remanded the eight people for four days.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said that the prompt action taken by the government after Rupganj factory fire should serve as a warning to all others do business putting employees’ lives at risk.  Quader said this while addressing virtually a programme on the occasion of distributing Covid-19 safety materials, organized by the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee at Bangabandhu Avenue here. He ridiculed BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his comments that the Awami League has been responsible for Thursday’s devastating fire at Hashem Foods Ltd. in Rupganj. Also read: N’ganj factory fire an incident of murder: BNP He made light of Fakhrul’s allegation saying the BNP secretary general may “one day blame the Awami League if any one dies in a lightning strike.” Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said that there will be no problem with Covid vaccine.  He urged critics to stop talking about an artificial crisis of the jabs. There are elements which are making up the vaccine crisis with political motive, he said. He called for burying petty party politics over the pandemic. He said there is now only one politics and that is to stand by the people in this time of crisis. The Awami League is wholeheartedly doing so, he added. Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames Quader said Awami League is the only political party which has stood by the helpless people from the capital to the villages. He said corona infection is on the rise due to carelessness and negligence of the people. He   appealed to the people to maintain health guidelines and wearing masks for their own protection. Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury presided over the function while the party’s presidium member Abdur Rahman, organizing secretary Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, relief and social welfare secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, health secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana and Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League president Ahmed Mannafi and General Secretary Humayun Kabir also spoke. Later, the leaders distributed safety protection materials among the representatives of different organisations.

Family members on Saturday claimed 40 out of the 48 unidentified bodies burnt to the bone at the Rupganj factory fire, said CID DNA Assistant Analyst Nusrat Yasmin. DNA samples were collected from 56 people on behalf of the claimants' families, she added. “We have already taken samples from 48 unidentified bodies at the DMCH morgue. Forty of those bodies were claimed by family members today.” “We have collected 56 samples from the claimants, we will deliver the bodies to the family as soon as we get a match,” she added. DNA collected from the burnt bodies is being matched with DNA collected from articles of clothing or other items submitted by claimant families. Locked inside a facility with no fire exit, 52 lives were burnt to ashes caused by the Rupganj factory fire in Narayanganj. It took around 27 hours for 18 firefighting units to douse the fire completely as at some floors had huge inflammable substances stockpiled. Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames Firefighters recovered 49 bodies from the 4th floor of the building and sent those to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital’s morgue, taking the death toll to 52 from the tragic incident. Only one of the 49 bodies could be identified, as the rest were completely burnt. Earlier, three deaths from the accident were confirmed by the authorities of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and US Bangla Medical College and Hospital, Rupganj on Thursday. As more details emerged of the catastrophe, it became clear that the workers were left with no chance in the face of the raging inferno, that has been further fuelled by combustible items such as ghee, butter, oil and polybags stored on each floor.   Even so, the workers may have had a chance at escape, if only the building code had been maintained to provide an emergency exit, or the management had not implemented the medieval practice of locking the gates of the factory floors, that carried undertones of the horrific Tazreen Garments fire in 2012 that killed at least 112. Deputy Director of the Fire Service Debashish Bardhan confirmed to UNB that rescue workers had to literally break down the locked collapsible gate on the building's 4th floor to go in and recover the bodies. That is where they found 49 of the bodies, burnt to a pulp overnight on the factory floor.   Most of the bodies were in a recognisable state. Narayanganj Additional Deputy Commissioner (Overall) Shamim Bepari said they would be handed over to their relatives after DNA testing to identify them. They have already been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy and DNA test. Also read: Rupganj fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, sons among 8 put on remand A Narayanganj court on Saturday placed the eight people, including the chairman of Sajeeb Group, his four sons and the group CEO, on a four-day remand each following their arrest in connection with the Rupganj factory fire case. Narayanganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Fahmida Khanam passed the order in the afternoon after a hearing as police produced the arrestees before the court seeking a 10-day remand for them, inspector Asaduzzaman told the UNB correspondent from the court. Earlier in the day, Narayanganj police arrested Md Abul Hashem, chairman of the group, his four sons -- Hashem Bin Hashem, Tareq Ibrahim, Tawsib Ibrahim and Tanjim Ibrahim-- and its CEO Shahan Sha Azad, DGM Mamunur Rashid and head of admin Salauddin in the connection with the tragic fire in the factory owned by the group that claimed the lives of 52 people so far. Earlier, police filed a case with Rupganj police station against the eight people and many unknown others following the massive fire in the factory, said Superintendent of Police in the district Md Zaidul Alam. Group CEO Shahan Sha Azad was arrested from the company’s head office in the capital’s Farmgate area, while Chairman Hashem from his Gulshan residence, SP Alam said.

The International Trade Union Confederation Bangladesh Council (ITUC-BC) Saturday expressed deep concern over the death of 52 workers and injury of more than 30 in a fire at Hashem Food and Beverage factory in Narayanganj's Rupganj. ITUC-BC Chairman Anwar Hossain and Secretary General Md Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan demanded legal action against "the culprits as it appears that the authorities killed the workers in a planned way by blocking the exit of the factory and preventing rescuers from entering the building during the fire." Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames The global trade union federation demanded compensation for deceased workers' families, according to international standards; rehabilitation and compensation for the injured. ITUC-BC said factory fires are recurring due to inefficiency, negligence and indifference of the concerned authorities. It urged the government to form a judicial inquiry committee against all those, directly and indirectly, responsible for the incident. Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, 4 sons, CEO among 8 arrested Also, the global trade union federation called for making the results of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments' work on anomalies of the factory – especially the recruitment of child workers – public.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is monitoring the situation and the measures taken by the government after a devastating factory fire killed 52 workers at Rupganj near Dhaka, the Awami League general secretary said on Saturday. Obaidul Quader, who is also road transport and bridges minister, was addressing virtually an event marking the observance of the 15th anniversary of Bangabandhu Adarsh Forum in Dhaka. Also read: Rupganj fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, sons among 8 put on remand He expressed deep grief over the loss of life in the tragic blaze and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. Saying three committees have been formed to probe the fire, Quader vowed that no one found responsible for the disaster will be spared. Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames The fire broke out at Hashem Foods Ltd at Bhulta,  Rupganj under Narayanganj district around 5 p.m. Thursday. The meeting was presided over by Natyajan Ataur Rahman, president of Bangabandhu Adarsh Forum.

The injured workers undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in connection with the massive factory fire in Rupganj were given medical assistance of Tk 50,000 from the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation fund under the Ministry of Labor and Employment on Saturday. Today, the secretary of the ministry KM Abdus Salam handed over a check of Tk 50,000 for medical aid to each of the three workers undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A total of Tk 11 lakh has been handed over to 22 injured workers including those undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and a private hospital in Rupganj. Besides, Tk 2 lac will be provided to the deceased upon confirming their identities, KM Abdus Salam  told reporters. Earlier on Friday, State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian pledged that Legal action will be taken against the owners of the Rupganj factory where over 50 workers died in a fire, if there is evidence of their negligence. Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames It is when she said that  the family of the deceased would be provided with Tk 2 lac and the injured Tk 50,000 tomorrow from the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation fund under the labor ministry. Earlier on Saturday, police arrested Md Abul Hashem, chairman of the group Sajeeb Group that owns the factory, his four sons -- Hashem Bin Hashem, Tareq Ibrahim, Tawsib Ibrahim and Tanjim Ibrahim-- and its CEO Shahan Sha Azad, DGM Mamunur Rashid and head of admin Salauddin. The eight will be produced before court later in the day, said Superintendent of Police (Narayanganj) Md Zaidul Alam. So far 52 workers, some of them reportedly teen-aged boys and girls, were killed in the devastating fire that tore through the seven-story factory that produced foods and beverages such as juice, cold drinks, toast biscuits and laccha semai. According to the fire service, huge amount of plastic and packaging materials in the building may have fuelled the fire in just a few minutes after it broke out. They said the blocked door at the factory’s staircase has caused so many deaths that could have been avoided. Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, 4 sons, CEO among 8 arrested It took around 27 hours for 18 fire fighting units to douse the blaze completely as at some floors huge amounts of inflammable substances were stockpiled. On Friday noon, after breaking the locked door of the fourth floor, fire fighters discovered rows of bodies burnt to ashes.   Fire fighters recovered 49 bodies from the floor and sent them to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital’s morgue, which took the death toll to 52 from the tragic incident. None of the 49 bodies could be identified yet as they have completely been charred. Three others died from injuries after jumping off the building on Thursday.