Momotaj Begum burst into tears while receiving the body of her sister Nazma Begum who was burnt to death in the Hashem Foods Factory fire in Rupganj at DMCH morgue on Wednesday — FE photo by KAZ Sumon Relatives broke down in tears while receiving charred bodies of 24 victims of the Narayanganj factory fire at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue on Wednesday.
The authorities handed over bodies of 24 out of the 48 people who were burnt to death in the July 8 fire at Hashem Foods Ltd factory in Rupganj of Narayanganj.
Rest of the bodies will be handed over on Saturday.
The bodies were handed over by the authorities after the forensic unit of the police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) identified 45 bodies through DNA testing.
"Twenty-one identified bodies will be handed over on Saturday. Three bodies that are yet to be identified will be handed over after further testing," Additional DIG Emam Hossain of the CID told the media.
He said the investigation was progressing fast.
He added the charge sheet will be filed soon in the case over the fire that had started from an electric short circuit.
The 24 victims are :Md Ayat Hossain, Md Naim Islam, Nusrat Jahan Tuktuki, Hima Akter, Sagorika Sayela, Khadeza Akter, Mohammad Ali, Takiya Akter, Shahana Akter, Mitu Akter, Jahanara, Farzana, Fatema Akter, Nazma Khatun, Ishrat Jahan Tuli, Nazma Begum, Mohammad Rashed, Rakib Hossain, Firoza Begum, Tarek Zia, Ripon Miah, Shahana Akter, Mohammad Munna and Ria Akter.
Talking to the FE, relatives of the victims demanded that exemplary punishment be meted out to those responsible for the fire incident.
Some of them lamented that they had lost their sole bread earner s in the fire incident.
They called upon the government as well as the factory owner to provide sufficient compensations to the victims' families and provided them with jobs.
"I want punishment to those who are responsible for the fire incident that had claimed my brother and others' lives," said a relative of a victim while wailing touching the coffin.
He also demanded adequate compensation from the factory authorities and sought government help to realise it.
"We have given Tk 25,000 to the families of each deceased for holding funerals. They will be given more financial aid later," said Additional Deputy Commissioner of police SM Mahfuzur Rahman.
At least 52 workers were killed in the deadly fire that had engulfed the six-storey building of Hashem Foods, which is owned by Sajeeb Group, in Rupganj on July 8 last.
Four of the bodies were handed over to the families following autopsies after the fire incident.
Fires broke out in 33 export-oriented garment factories, 13 local garment manufacturing factories and 81 factories of various sizes that manufacture other products in 2020 and so far, according to the district's Fire Service and Civil Defence unit.
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