PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL)

1.Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)

2.Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)and Others

Bangladesh and Others

A four-storied building situated at the BSCIC Industrial Area in Chittagong and used as the factory of KTS Textile and Garments caught fire and 57 workers died. At the time of the fire, the main gate was closed as per the direction of the management and there was no emergency exit. Many of the workers, finding no route of escape, simply burned to death and their bodies were found in the staircase, on the floor and on the window grills.

The High Court issued a Rule Nisi upon the respondents to show cause as to why the authorities concerned should not be directed to take necessary action as required by law to effectively investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for deaths and injuries of the victims of fire at KTS Garments in Chittagong. Pending hearing of the Rule Nisi, the Court directed the concerned authorities to submit an investigation report regarding the cause of fire and the safety measures adopted. The Court also directed the KTS authorities to submit a report of a complete account of the amount paid to the victims as compensation. The Court further directed them to ensure medical treatment of the victims of the fire. The Court observed that a National Committee should be established pursuant to the directives earlier set out in Writ Petition No 6070 of 2001 to monitor compliance by garments factories with the applicable laws on fire safety, to make recommendations to prevent any such incidents and to disseminate their reports in the press and on their website on a bi-annual basis.

Mr. Justice Abdul Matin

Mr. Justice A.T.M Fazley Kabir

The case came up to the cause list as a item no. 2 for hearing in the Main Building Court No. 11. 

Mr. Justice Mirza Hussain Haider

Mr.Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar