Dhaka: Bangladesh`s government said Saturday it will give USD 2,500 to the families of those who died in a garment factory fire last week and USD 625 to those who were injured.
The government`s offer of compensation, announced to The Associated Press by Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, an aide to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was separate from the garment industry`s promise to pay the families of the victims a monthly salary for at least 10 years.
The fire a week ago killed 112 people and put renewed focus on the lack of proper safety precautions at some of the nation`s 4,000 garment factories.
The USD 20 billion industry accounts for 80 percent of Bangladesh`s exports.
More than 1,000 workers at the Tazreen factory in a Dhaka suburb protested outside the burned-out facility on today demanding compensation for their lost wages. The government announced they would be paid for November, but some angry workers demanded they be given four months` salary.
Extra police were deployed to the area to maintain calm, said Kader Dewan, an assistant commissioner of police.
PTI
