Probe bodies yet to complete investigation into Rupganj fire

Three separate probe committees formed by different government agencies to investigate the devastating fire incident that killed at least 52 workers at Hashem Foods’ Rupganj factory on July 8, are yet to submit any report.

The probe committees were formed by Narayanganj district administration, Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence and the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, respectively.

Deputy Director (Development) Nur Hasan Ahmed of the Fire Service and a member of the investigation committee, said they also failed to complete their probe within 5 working days as stipulated. He, however, hoped his committee would be able to submit the report by the end of this week.

The District Commissioner Office of Narayanganj had also formed a probe committee which was supposed to submit its report within seven working days. But, instead of submitting their findings, they sought seven more working days.

Mustain Billah, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Narayanganj said, “We have allowed the committee seven more days for a thorough investigation. After receiving the report, we will share it with the journalists.”

Joint Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, Mustafizur Rahman said, their investigation is yet to be completed because people took leave in the lockdown.

The Ministry of Home Affair isn't aware of the current status of those investigations. Mallick Sayeed Mahbub, Joint Secretary (Fire Wing) of Ministry of Home said, “Currently, I don’t know if the reports are completed or not. If I get to know, I will share with you.”

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that was entrusted with investigating the case has been walking at a snail's pace, too. They considered the matter “very sensitive”, but didn’t set any deadline for submitting the report to the authorities.

“This is a very sensitive issue. Our investigation is going on. Without completing the inquiry, we cannot share any information with the media,” Inspector Ataur Rahman of CID’s Narayanganj office told the Business Insider Bangladesh on Sunday.

He said he and his crews are on the field to dig the matter out very seriously.

Experts fear, like other incidents, this report will also be too late to see the light. They don’t have enough faith in such reports, as well. They claim that the giant companies are always active to manipulate the reports.

S M Nazer Hossain, Vice President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh said, “We have rarely seen proper investigation reports being submitted on time. So, this time I am not that hopeful about the report.”

He said the report must be objective and in favour of the workers and it should not be directed to preserve the image of the company.

The companies always manipulate such reports by underhand efforts, he added.

At least 52 workers were killed in that fire that broke out in a six-storey building of Hashem Foods and Beverages Limited, a subsidiary of Sajeeb Group at Rupganj of Narayanganj on July 8.

The chairman of Sajeeb Group, MA Hashem, and his two sons have secured bail in the case filed over the deaths of dozens of workers in that fire.