A committee set up by the Bangladesh Government to investigate the cause of fire at Tazreen Fashions factory last month has submitted its preliminary report to the Home Ministry.
In its report, the committee rules out possibility of electrical short circuit, which raises suspicion about some foul play and hence, recommends a full criminal investigation into the incident.
The 214-page report blames the owner of the factory as well as nine mid-level employees for act of negligence which resulted in death of 112 people.
The report recommends setting up of a special government force tasked with carrying out inspections of garment factories at regular intervals for ensuring compliance of workers’ safety measures.
Around four million people, most of them women, are employed in over 4,500 readymade garment making units in Bangladesh, the second largest apparel exporter in the world.
In fact, the clothing industry accounts for nearly 80 percent of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange earnings.