More effort needed to ensure industrial safety, says CPD
The think tank noted that addressing gaps in ensuring labour rights and workers’ safety is much more important now, given the upcoming milestones of Bangladesh’s development, like the LDC graduation in 2026
Dhaka Tribune
Tanveer Mohiuddin
Publish : 13 Jan 2022, 07:47 PMUpdate : 13 Jan 2022, 07:46 PM
The shift towards a manufacturing-dependent economy for Bangladesh raises concerns regarding industrial safety, which, according to the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), remains largely unaddressed.
Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at CPD, said that they welcome the initiatives taken by the Bangladesh Development Authority (BIDA) so far, but the progress and results are unsatisfactory.
“Industrial safety has been a growing concern among civil society in recent years,” he said at a press briefing titled Fire Incidents in Workplaces and Workers Safety: Where are Corrective Actions?
The media briefing, held at the CPD office on Thursday, was organized by the think tank in partnership with Christian Aid in Bangladesh.
Rigorous industrial safety measures are of critical importance now to reduce the accidents and casualties, Moazzem said, adding that the required measures would be similar to those that had been done in the RMG sector after the Rana Plaza tragedy.
“One of the most talked about incidents occurred in Narayanganj on July 8, 2021, where a factory fire at a food processing factory took 52 lives and injured more than 50. And since then, a total of 82 different types of accidents have been reported all over the country, which is almost one every two days,” he further said in his presentation.
“In service-related activities, the highest level of risk is observed in the case of shopping malls or markets (42.3%), educational institutions (22%) and health care services (19.2%),” he said.
The economist said that the Remediation Coordination Cell (RCC) should be involved in the inspection and monitoring of non-RMG factories, as well as providing the necessary human resources and logistical support.
He also suggested that the Department of Environment (DoE) hire more inspectors and officers, as well as offer them necessary training.
According to the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), a total of 763 accidents were reported in the last five years.
And a total of 1,345 injuries were reported, out of which 806 (60%) injuries were reported as “fatal”, and 539 (40%) caused death.
Even though the number of incidents shows a diminishing trend, the share of death is still high at (103) 19.1% in FY20.
Speaking at the press briefing, Nuzhat Jabin, program manager of Economic Justice at Christian Aid Bangladesh, said that taking safety measures does not always require monetary initiatives.
“Rather a change of mentality by training could help improve the situation,” she said, referring to fire exits being blocked in many incidents.
Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of CPD, noted that addressing gaps in ensuring labour rights and workers’ safety is much more important now, given the upcoming milestones of Bangladesh’s development, like the LDC graduation in 2026.
Speakers also said at the briefing that the Department of Environment should maintain regular inspection of the non-RMG factories and should increase awareness related to environmental cost and damage among the industrialists.
They also suggested that the boiler and explosive-related laws and act be amended as the inspection checklist was developed based on some century-old laws and acts.
More effort needed to ensure industrial safety, says CPD
The think tank noted that addressing gaps in ensuring labour rights and workers’ safety is much more important now, given the upcoming milestones of Bangladesh’s development, like the LDC graduation in 2026
The shift towards a manufacturing-dependent economy for Bangladesh raises concerns regarding industrial safety, which, according to the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), remains largely unaddressed.
Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at CPD, said that they welcome the initiatives taken by the Bangladesh Development Authority (BIDA) so far, but the progress and results are unsatisfactory.
“Industrial safety has been a growing concern among civil society in recent years,” he said at a press briefing titled Fire Incidents in Workplaces and Workers Safety: Where are Corrective Actions?
The media briefing, held at the CPD office on Thursday, was organized by the think tank in partnership with Christian Aid in Bangladesh.
Rigorous industrial safety measures are of critical importance now to reduce the accidents and casualties, Moazzem said, adding that the required measures would be similar to those that had been done in the RMG sector after the Rana Plaza tragedy.
“One of the most talked about incidents occurred in Narayanganj on July 8, 2021, where a factory fire at a food processing factory took 52 lives and injured more than 50. And since then, a total of 82 different types of accidents have been reported all over the country, which is almost one every two days,” he further said in his presentation.
“In service-related activities, the highest level of risk is observed in the case of shopping malls or markets (42.3%), educational institutions (22%) and health care services (19.2%),” he said.
The economist said that the Remediation Coordination Cell (RCC) should be involved in the inspection and monitoring of non-RMG factories, as well as providing the necessary human resources and logistical support.
He also suggested that the Department of Environment (DoE) hire more inspectors and officers, as well as offer them necessary training.
According to the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), a total of 763 accidents were reported in the last five years.
And a total of 1,345 injuries were reported, out of which 806 (60%) injuries were reported as “fatal”, and 539 (40%) caused death.
Even though the number of incidents shows a diminishing trend, the share of death is still high at (103) 19.1% in FY20.
Speaking at the press briefing, Nuzhat Jabin, program manager of Economic Justice at Christian Aid Bangladesh, said that taking safety measures does not always require monetary initiatives.
“Rather a change of mentality by training could help improve the situation,” she said, referring to fire exits being blocked in many incidents.
Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of CPD, noted that addressing gaps in ensuring labour rights and workers’ safety is much more important now, given the upcoming milestones of Bangladesh’s development, like the LDC graduation in 2026.
Speakers also said at the briefing that the Department of Environment should maintain regular inspection of the non-RMG factories and should increase awareness related to environmental cost and damage among the industrialists.
They also suggested that the boiler and explosive-related laws and act be amended as the inspection checklist was developed based on some century-old laws and acts.
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