Four factory inspectors have been suspended for neglecting their duties and responsibilities, following a labour ministry probe report on the Rana Plaza tragedy, an official said.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment on Sunday suspended the four officers of the Inspectorate of Factories and Establishments (IFE), and decided to file departmental action against them.
Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar on Sunday told Dhaka Tribune that the ministry has issued suspension orders for four officers, out of eight who were blamed for the Rana Plaza collapse on April 24.
The ministry also requested the public administration ministry to withdraw Habibul Islam, an admin cadre deputy secretary who has been serving as chief inspector of factories on deputation.
“We have requested the public administration ministry to withdraw the chief inspector for neglecting his duty,” Shipar said.
The officers who were suspended are deputy chief inspector Mohammad Aminul Islam and inspector (engineering) Md Yusuf Ali, both of Chittagong divisional office, and inspector (engineering) Md Sahidul Islam and assistant chief inspector (current charge) Mahmudul Haque of Dhaka divisional office.
A labour ministry probe committee implicated eight IFE officers for neglecting their duties and giving fitness certificate to the risky building to operate garment factories.
Out of the accused officers, Abdus Samad, a former deputy chief inspector of Dhaka divisional office, has retired, while three others were suspended earlier over the Tazreen Fashions fire incident. They are: MA Zamshedur Rahman, joint labour director (current charge) of Khulna divisional office, Md Belayet Hossain, project director of Tongi IRI and Sheikh Asaduzzaman, assistant inspector of Dhaka divisional office.
Shipar said departmental action would be taken against the seven suspended officers who are still in service. However, no action can be taken against Abdus Samad as he is retired.
On May 27, the probe committee submitted its report to the labour secretary, accusing 24 people for the Rana Plaza collapse that killed 1,129 garment workers, and left 2,436 others seriously injured.
The accused include owners of the five factories housed at Rana Plaza, mayor Md Refayet Ullah, two chief executive officers and four engineers of Savar municipality, city planner Farzana Islam, designer of the building Shafiqul Islam and surveyor Ismail Hossain.