Examination of witness starts over Tazreen Fashions fire

A court in Dhaka has started examining witnesses in the case over the deaths of workers in Tazreen Fashions fire four years ago.

The examination of witnesses started on Sunday with plaintiff Ashulia Police Station Sub-Inspector Khairul Islam and SI Shahjalal, who recorded the case.  

Dhaka’s First Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court is hearing the case over culpable homicide of more than 100 workers.

The maximum penalty in such cases is life imprisonment.  

Judge SM Saiful Isla has fixed Feb 7 for the next hearing, State counsel Kazi Shahanara Yasmin said.

Three workers of the garment factory – Sona Mia Mandal, Manjur Alam, and Mosammat Laili Begum – will be examined on that day, Yasmin said.

The case has 13 accused and 104 witnesses.

Of the accused, eight were present in court when the witnesses were examined.

Plaintiff Khairul identified all of them, including Tazrin Fashions Managing Director Delwar Hossain, and his wife Mahmuda Akter, who is the chairman of the firm.

File Photo

The other accused persons present in court were Administrative Officer Dulal Uddin, Store Manager Hamidul Islam Lablu, Security Supervisor Al Amin, Security In-charge Anisur Rahman, Store In-charge (thread) Al-Amin, and engineer Mahbubul Morshed.

Of the accused, guard ‘Anarul’ alias ‘Rana’, Shamim Mia, Abdur Razzak, Shahiduzzaman Dulal, and Mobarak Hossain are absconding.

At least 111 people died and more than 104 were injured in the fire at Tazreen Fashions at Ashulia in Dhaka’s Savar on Nov 24, 2012.

In December 2013, police submitted a chargesheet in the case over the fire, holding the 13 responsible for the tragedy.

The accused had been charged with culpable negligence under Section 304 and 304 (a) of the Bangladesh Penal Code.