Conduct DNA of 37 ‘missing’ Tazreen victims’ relatives: HC

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The High Court on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to conduct DNA tests of the family members of 37 people reportedly missing in the fire incident at Tazreen Fashions Ltd that killed 112 workers in November last year.

Passing the order, an HC bench comprising Justice Dr Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain also asked the Inspector General of Police to submit a progress report on June 19 in this connection and the officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station to come up with a compliance report on July 18 after investigating the incident.

The High Court gave the people concerned until June 19 to submit the Home Ministry probe report on the fire incident.

Voicing concern over non-submission of the Home Ministry probe report and not taking any action against factory owner Delwar Hossain, the court said the state representatives –The Home Secretary and the IGP – had been asked to submit the probe report. “But they didn’t do that. Are they above the law?”

The court continued: “While one (Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana) is in jail, then how is the other roaming outside? It looks improper.”

The orders came while hearing a writ petition filed by three anthropologists — Nazneen Akhtar Banu, Syeda Gulrukh and Mahmudul Hassan Suman on April 28.

During Sunday’s hearing, factory owner Delwar told the court that families of 98 of the 112 victims were given compensations in two phases. “The rest couldn’t be identified.”

On May 19, the same bench asked the government to immediately arrest Tazreen owner Delwar Hossain and produce him before it, and submit the Home Ministry probe report on May 30.

Later, it directed the authorities concerned to submit on June 9 its report as it did not comply with its order.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for the petitioners while assistant attorney general M Jahangir Alam represented the state and Barrister Fida M Kamal stood for Delwar.

A report of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) claimed that 112 workers were killed in the fire incident.

However, different garment workers’ organisations claimed that 124 workers were killed in the devastating fire incident.

Source: UNBConnect