The taskforce formed by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association to ensure fire safety in the garment factories started its operation on Sunday.

On the first day of operation, a team of the taskforce comprising three representatives from BUET Alumni Association, five from Fire Service and Civil Defence and one from labour directorate visited four apparel units in the Ashulia and Malibagh areas to inspect fire safety measures.

BGMEA president Md Shafiul Islam , who is also the convenor of the taskforce, led the operation.
The visited factories are Bando Design Limited and Starling Creations at Ashulia owned by BGMEA vice-president Md Siddiqur Rahman, Rose Dresses Limited at Ashulia owned by BGMEA former-vice president Atiqul Islam and Onus Apparels Limited at Malibagh owned by BGMEA president Md Shafiul Islam.

Visiting members of the of the taskforce are Shah Alam Zahiruddin, Ex-Chief Architect, Department of Architecture, architect Khondoker Tazuddin, industrial engineering expert AKM Masud, Debasish Barman, assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, and Obaidul Islam, deputy director of labour directorate.

The BGMEA formed the taskforce in the backdrop of the devastating fire at Tazreen Fashions at Ashulia which killed 112 workers and injured several others on November 24.

After visiting the factories, taskforce member Shah Alam Zahiruddin said that they had just started their activities and they would work out a realistic work plan after initially visiting 10 factories.

He said that they would try to find out the faults of architectural designs of factories and give suggestions to overcome the defects.
BGMEA president said that not for the pressure of buyers, entrepreneurs have realised after Tazreen Fashions fire that fire safety is very important for the development of the sector.

After visiting the factories BGMEA will take measures as per the recommendations of the taskforce to ensure safety in the garment factories, he said.
Debasish Barman, assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said that they visited mostly new generation factories where fire safety measures are satisfactory.

On November 30, the BGMEA at an emergency meeting with foreign buyers and their representatives announced that it would form a  taskforce within a week to address the health and safety issues in the garment units.
International buyers at the meeting asked for workers’ safety and better working condition and warned that otherwise buyers would lose their confidence in Bangladesh’s RMG industry.