Tazreen fire: Justice denied for 12 long years

On November 24, 2012, a fire claimed the lives of 117 readymade garment workers employed at Tazreen Fashion Ltd in Ashulia’s Nishchintapur area. The incident also injured 200 workers.
Marking 12 years of the tragedy, family members, injured workers, and labour activists and leaders gathered in front of the factory, offering prayers and flowers.
Representatives of several organisations, including Garments Workers Solidarity, Textile Garments Workers Federation, Garments Workers Trade Union Center, Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers Trade Union Center, Bangladesh Labor Institute, Bangladesh Garments-Shramik Trade Union Federation, and Garments Tailors Workers League, participated at the event.
Following the formal part, the speakers said while over a decade has passed since the incident, the factory owner, Delwar Hossain—an Awami League ally—still roams free while the families of the deceased wait for compensation.
While the trial for the case filed over the incident continues at a snail’s pace, no initiative has been taken to rehabilitate the workers injured in the fire or speed up the trial.
Nasima Akhter had jumped from the fourth floor of the factory building that day to save herself. The incident took away her mobility and further deteriorated her health.
“I have suffered from various health-related problems since that incident. But I can’t buy medicines, nor can I afford three meals a day, as the factory owners did not facilitate any medical treatment for us,” she said.
Zarina Akhter, another worker injured in the incident, said, “The culprits were not punished during Hasina’s regime. We had demanded rehabilitation, compensation, and long-term treatment, but to no avail.”
According to Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers Trade Union Center, the authorities had locked the factory gates that day, compelling everyone and everything to be burned to the ground.
Delwar, the owner, was released on bail and remained free till August 5. He went into hiding following the fall of the AL government.