Residents of Barisal have demanded chemical and pharmaceutical factories be shifted immediately from residential areas of the city.
The demand was raised following a fire that broke out in a factory of Opsonin Pharmaceuticals Ltd on Bogra Road on Monday killing one and injuring four workers of the factory.
The fire that broke out on 3rd, 4th and 5th floors of the factory had severely weakened the structure of the building, said Shawkat Hasan, deputy director of Barisal Fire Service and Civil Defense
“Such explosions of chemicals poses risk to the structures surrounding the factory. Moreover, the rickety building might collapse any time creating hazards in the residential area,” said Dr Mizanur Rahman, member-secretary of Barisal Nagorik Samaj at a human chain yesterday.
Besides, three factories of the Opsonin group, the citizens called for transfer of one factory of Rephco and one factory of Chemist Laboratories situated on the Mathuranath School Road and College Row areas respectively.
Sukumar Biswas, director of Barisal divisional office of environment directorate, said: “Owners of these five factories were issued with notices seven times in the last five years to shift their factories from the densely populated areas. Every time the authorities sought more time and promised to shift the factories soon. But in reality, nothing was done.”
In December 2014, authorities of Opsonin group promised to shift their factories by December 2015, he told the Dhaka Tribune.
When contacted, Sayedur Rahman, factory in-charge of Opsonin Pharmaceuticals, admitted of receiving letters from DoE.
“We have already started the process to shift the factory. We hope it will be done by December this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Samajtantrik Sramik Front Barisal unit hold a human chain in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city demanding compensation for the workers killed and injured by the fire at Opsonin Pharmaceuticals.
Their demands included shifting the factories, ensuring safety of workers at work, rehabilitation and medical allowance for the family members of killed and injured workers.
The victims of the fire incident would be compensated as per the labour law, said Sayedur Rahman.
