At least 52 dead in Bangladesh factory fire; workers were illegally locked inside

LA Times ^ | 7-9-21 | JULHAS ALAM

[dynachrome]

A fire engulfed a food and beverage factory outside Bangladesh’s capital, killing at least 52 people, many of whom were trapped inside by an illegally locked door, fire officials said Friday. The blaze began Thursday night at the five-story Hashem Foods factory in Rupganj, just outside Dhaka, sending huge clouds of black smoke billowing into the sky. Police initially gave a toll of three dead, but then discovered piles of bodies Friday afternoon after the fire was extinguished.

So far, 52 bodies have been recovered, but the top two floors of the factory have yet to be searched, said Debasish Bardhan, deputy director of the Fire Service and Civil Defense.

He said the main exit of the factory was locked from the inside, and many of those who died were trapped.

[dynachrome]

Damn.

[dfwgator]

Guess they don’t have unions in Bangladesh.

[Irenic]

Horrible.

[ConservativeMind]

Truly sad to read.

[Bulwyf]

Terrible and terrifying way to go. I hope they publicly hang the people who locked them in.

[dfwgator]

and big international brands, which employ tens of thousands of low-paid workers in Bangladesh, have come under heavy pressure to improve factory conditions after fires and other disasters killed thousands of people

Ahh, the joys of globalism.

[Spok]

My first thought was “Nike”. I wonder how many of the dead were kids.

[jagusafr]

Shades of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory case...

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Yep.

[dfwgator]

First thing that came to mind.

[4yearlurker]

I remember a fire in the late 1980s down in the southern states I think. A factory making chicken nuggets caught fire and the exits were locked and blocked with dumpsters to prevent theft. Can't remember the name of the company.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.

[airborne]

My thought too but the story says it was a “food” warehouse.

[Tell It Right]

52 less people giving zakat (muslim tithe) to fund jihad.

[bert]

Unions?

What was lacking was a panic device. Locked doors are normal even if illegal

[entropy12]

Nazism is alive in Bangladesh (forced labor for the unarmed and undesirables).

[entropy12]

But 52 X 72 virgins no longer virgins in Allah’s heaven.

[lewislynn]

He said the main exit of the factory was locked from the inside

NEVER USE double cylinder (keyed both sides) locks/dead bolts.

[Notthereyet]

“Shades of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory case...”
_________________________________________

Back in the 80’s I had a large paperback book about disasters. In that book the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was covered. It was appalling the owners got off so lightly.

I can recall the book cover....yellow and black....and for the life of myself, cannot recall the title... I read that book back to back, over and over.... it disappeared and I have not been able to find it on-line..... Sigh.....

Dark tidings usually are not a subject I enjoy reading; this book, however, was so detailed in the different cases... fires, floods, boats/ships sinking, and the like. Just so fascinating.

Sigh. I really miss that book.

[Notthereyet]

“52 less people giving zakat (muslim tithe) to fund jihad.”
______________________________________

52 Lost souls....... :(