Bangladesh government offers compensation to victims of garment factory fire

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh’s government said Saturday it will give 200,000 takas ($2,500) to the families of those who died in a garment factory fire last week and 50,000 takas ($625) to those who were injured.

The government’s offer of compensation, announced to The Associated Press by Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, an aide to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was separate from the garment industry’s promise to pay the families of the victims a monthly salary for at least 10 years.

The fire a week ago killed 112 people and put renewed focus on the lack of proper safety precautions at some of the nation’s 4,000 garment factories. The $20 billion industry accounts for 80 per cent of Bangladesh’s exports.

More than 1,000 workers at the Tazreen factory in a Dhaka suburb protested outside the burned-out facility on Saturday demanding compensation for their lost wages. The government announced they would be paid for November, but some angry workers demanded they be given four months’ salary.

Extra police were deployed to the area to maintain calm, said Kader Dewan, an assistant commissioner of police.

06:29ET 01-12-12