Industrial Safety of Non-RMG Enterprises and Workers: Perspective on BIDA-led Monitoring Initiative

Abstract

Industrial safety in non readymade garments (RMG) enterprises has remained almost unaddressed over the decades. The tragedy occurred at a food-processing factory (Hashem foods Ltd.) in Narayanganj on 8 July 2021, which killed over 52 workers and injured more than 50 workers, has once again highlighted industrial safety issues in the non-RMG enterprises of Bangladesh. However, the non-RMG enterprises did not take lessons from previous incidents that happened and seemingly failed to establish a safe and secure workplace, as the number of incidents and causalities is upsurging over time. In the last six months, a total of 82 accidents have been reported in the national dailies; in other words, almost one incident occurred in every two days.1 The majority of these accidents are related to fire (52 accidents); other accidents involve electrical, boiler explosion, and related issues where these incidents caused deaths of 167 workers/people and injury of 256 workers/people. Major industrial zones Dhaka and adjacent areas (29), Narayanganj (10), Gazipur (8), and Chattogram (8) are accident-prone areas. Bangladesh’s budding reputation as an industrial hub will be at risk at regional and global levels if the increasing incidents are not addressed.