Ashulia lighter factory fire claims another worker

Another woman worker has succumbed to her burns, eight days after a fire at a cigarette lighter factory in Dhaka’s Ashulia.

Sakhina Begum passed away at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 8am Wednesday, said Burn Unit doctor Partha Sankar Pal.

The 25-year-old worker had suffered 30 percent burns.

Twenty-six women factory workers sustained burns in the fire at the factory of Colour Max (BD) on Nov 22.

‘Akhi’, 16, died at the burn unit in the night following the fire. Two days later, Rocky Aktar, 18, succumbed to her wounds.

On Monday, 26-year-old Mahmuda Aktar passed away.   

Sixteen other workers, all women, remain under treatment at the burn unit with 20 to 70 percent burns, said Dr Pal.

A loud explosion was heard from the factory just before its tin shacks went up in flames, witnesses said.   

The factory that made gas lighters was set up without approval on the plot that once had a chicken farm, said the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments. 

A case has been filed in the Labour Court against four including the owner of Colour Max (BD).