DHAKA: After visiting 837 ready made garments (RMG) factories, US-based ‘Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety’ said that the factories do not have sufficient fire safety measures.

It also said that around Tk1,600-crore need to be invested to install fire safety measures in those factories.

Alliance managing director Mezbah Robin came up with observations in a press conference on Saturday.

The conference was organized to brief media about three-day international expo on fire and building safety starting at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in city on December 7.

Mezbah Robin further said the Alliance visited 837 garments factories around the country but did not find any fire escape in any of them. “Moreover, the Alliance observed other errors related to building safety,” he added.

He also said that in average, there is a need for $2.5-lakh (over 1.95-crore) to construct fire escape and other renovation works of each factory building.

This means, the renovation of all 837 factories will require about Tk1,633-crore, he added.

Robin added that 28 factories out of 837, have already applied to the banks for loan facilities.

The Alliance top official also informed that a total of 36 brands, including 13 foreign, on building and fire safety will participate in the three-day expo at BICC.

BDST: 2146 HRS, DEC 05, 2015
AS/SR