Survivors’ cries for rehabilitation fall on deaf ears
Although seven years have elapsed since the devastating fire at Tazreen Fashions, no step has yet been taken to rehabilitate the survivors.
Besides, many of the injured as well as families of the dead workers are yet to receive proper compensation as pledged by the government and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), UNB reports.
Most of the survivors who lost their workability in the incident are leading an inhuman life. They demanded that steps be taken for their rehabilitation.
On November 24, 2012, a shattering fire in the factory of Tazreen Fashions at Nischintapur of Ashulia claimed lives of 113 workers and injured more than 300 others.
Robin, 45, who was injured in the devastating fire, almost lost his mental balance.
Talking to UNB, his wife Mariam, who herself is ill, said Robin cannot work for long at a place. “Sometimes, he loses his mental balance and talks and works incoherently. We’re passing our days amid very hardship.”
Shilpi Begum, a survivor of the Tazreen fire who currently sells handmade cakes (pitha) at a shop to eke out an existence said she lost her ability to work after the fire incident.
She said she established the pitha shop with Tk 10,000 after borrowing it from a labour leader. “I earned Tk 200-300 per day which is too inadequate to meet my family expenses,” she said and demanded that those were injured in the devastating fire incident be rehabilitated.
Another survivor Sabita Rani who failed to run tailoring business after the incident, said, “We tried a lot but no one cared about us. Due to the physical condition and lack of capital, we had to wind up our business.”
The survivors sought government’s attention and financial support for their treatment as well as education of their children.
Bangladesh Trade Union Federation president Tuhin Chowdhury said a specialised hospital should be established in the industrial hub of Savar for ensuring proper treatment for garment workers.
He also demanded exemplary punishment of Tazreen Fashions owner Delwar Hossain.
Meanwhile, different labour orgnasiations have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the 7th anniversary of the fire incident on Sunday.
The Trade Union Federation would place wreaths in front of the burnt structure of Tazreen Fashions at Nischintapur and offer Fateha seeking eternal peace of the departed souls.
