Govt panel recommends closure of Ctg factory

A government review committee has recommended the closure of Maggie and Liz Corporation, a private factory in Chittagong, to enable the demolition of its illegally built top floor. The committee made the suggestion after a 2-hour inspection on Thursday and Friday. The committee consists of engineers from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), government officials and representatives from BGMEA, IndustriAll, and European and North American retailers. The panel also advised a Detailed Engineering Assessment (DEA) for a clear idea of the factory’s structural integrity. In April this year, Alliance prepared a corrective action plan and suggested the factory’s partial closure to the panel. Initial inspection by Alliance for fire and electrical safety revealed narrow stairs, small exit doors, exit doors with locks and other locking devices. A basement kitchen that uses wood as fuel, absence of emergency evacuation plans and exit maps on stairs are among other minor violations. ‘We found that the six-storied building's top floor has violated its initial design. So we told the owner of the Maggie and Liz to demolish it,’ said Syed Ahmed, Inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment, who led inspection, according to a news agency.