Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) yesterday suspended membership of five readymade garment factories for violating its orders to not operate while housed at Rana Plaza in Savar.
It also took initiative to stop all kinds of activities of the five factories, vice president of BGMEA Shahidullah Azim told the media at a press briefing at the BGMEA conference room in the city yesterday.
The five factories are - New Wave Bottoms, New Wave Styles, Phantom Apparels, Phantom Tack and EtherTex, all housed in the collapsed building at Savar.
The eight-storey commercial building collapsed on Wednesday claiming at least 231 lives and leaving over 1600 injured. Hundreds more were still trapped under the building as rescue work continued on the second day.
Vice-president (finance) of BGMEA Riaz Bin Mahmud said they would compensate the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
He added that BGMEA took initiatives to provide proper medication to some 1810 injured. Three teams consisting BGMEA officials have already been working to ease the rehabilitation process of the workers of these factories, adding that if needed, BGMEA would send the critically injured aboard for better treatment.
Riaz said that they are in discussion with the government to bury the dead in their respective villages.
He also thanked BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for visiting the spot today and withdrawing their hartal programme on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, activists of some social organisations gathered in front of the BGMEA building yesterday demanding capital punishment to the owners of the five garment factories.
