Fire safety concerns persists as hundreds of readymade garment factories across Bangladesh continue operating without government licences or trade body affiliation, exposing thousands of workers to life-threatening hazards.
According to the data from government offices, several recent factory fires, including the deadly blaze in Mirpur鈥檚 Shialbari, occurred in unlicenced factories lacking fire exits, alarms, or extinguishing systems.
These factories, unaffiliated with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association or the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, operate with limited oversight and inadequate safety measures, raising serious concerns for workers.
Data from the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence show that 234 fire incidents occurred at RMG factories in 2024 alone.
The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments reported receiving information on safety issues at 143 RMG factories during the 2023鈥�24 fiscal year.
Experts and industry insiders urged the authorities to ensure due diligence across all industries, saying it is their fundamental responsibility.
They also called on the government to work jointly with trade bodies so that all factories come under the purview of at least one organisation.
鈥業n this regard, associations could introduce an associate or assistant membership so that small factories can be brought under monitoring,鈥� said Khondaker Golam Moazzem, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue.
He added that the government must ensure that no factory operates without membership.
鈥楾he government鈥檚 main focus has been on export-oriented factories, but it should also prioritise non-member small units and create a strong database of them,鈥� he said.
Industry stakeholders said that the absence of registration and trade body oversight allows factory owners to bypass safety upgrades, increasing the risk of casualties in the event of a fire or explosion.
BGMEA acting president Inamul Haq Khan said the Shialbari factories involved in the recent fire were not BGMEA members nor affiliated with any recognised industry association, nor covered by the RMG Sustainability Council.
He said that such incidents sometimes tarnish the image of the country鈥檚 compliant RMG sector.
On Tuesday, a fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in Mirpur鈥檚 Shialbari area, spreading to adjacent factories and killing at least 16 people.
The chemical warehouse, Shah Alam Chemical, had no licence from the Fire Service or DIFE, officials said.
In the Shialbari area, dozens of factories are operating dangerously close to universities, hotels, and residential buildings.
A senior DIFE official said, 鈥極nly a few factories in that area have DIFE certification. Though our teams conduct drives regularly, some units escape raids.鈥�
Fire Service director (operation and maintenance) Lt Col Tajul Islam said the warehouse, listed as Shah Alam Traders, was already included in the Fire Service鈥檚 list of illegal establishments and was scheduled for a drive.
Industry insiders said that not just in Mirpur, but several hundred apparel factories spread across the city are posing safety risks to workers.
A 2023 CPD report found about 856 RMG factories are not monitored by any agency, such as the RMG Sustainability Council or the Remediation Coordination Cell.
The Mapped in Bangladesh project, launched in 2017 to create a digital database of RMG workers and factories, identified 815 non-member factories that export 80 per cent or more of their products.
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies executive director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed said repeated factory fires occur due to weak laws and a lack of accountability among enforcement agencies.
鈥楴one of these are accidents; they are acts of negligent homicide. Unless the laws are reformed and justice ensured, such tragedies will not stop. There is no deterrent for owners who ignore safety rules,鈥� he said.
Syed Sultan, also chairman of the Labour Reform Commission, said any building found with safety issues must be shut down immediately.
鈥榃e fail to take such measures seriously because of our disregard for workers鈥� lives,鈥� he said.
He added that many issues fall outside the Fire Service鈥檚 jurisdiction, and the law must be amended.
鈥榊ou cannot ensure safety with four months鈥� imprisonment and two months鈥� compensation,鈥� he said, urging for accountability of government authorities to a tripartite committee and regular joint drives by the Fire Service, DIFE, and the Environment Department.
He also called for community empowerment and the formation of safety committees in every factory, noting that the largest chapter of the commission鈥檚 report was dedicated to workplace safety.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics鈥� Labour Force Survey 2024, the country鈥檚 total labour force stands at 69.10 million, with 58.04 million in informal employment. Among 11 million formal workers, nearly 4 million are employed in the RMG sector.
A DIFE official said they try to conduct operations but cannot cover all factories due to manpower shortages.
Bangladesh has witnessed several devastating factory fires over the years, including the Tazreen Fashions, Nimtali, Churihatta, Hashem Foods, and Tongi chemical warehouse fires, which claimed hundreds of lives.
Industry insiders alleged that DIFE and the Fire Service often conduct drives only at compliant factories due to vested interests, while non-member small factories largely remain unchecked.
Sammilito Garment Sramik Federation president Nazma Akter criticised the trade bodies for their reluctance to include non-member factories in the formal system.
She observed that international brands also bore responsibility, since subcontracted factories were an essential part of the supply chain.
Referring to the recent Mirpur fire, Nazma questioned the effectiveness of DIFE鈥檚 oversight and how factories continued to operate without compliance in residential areas.
