On October 14, 2025, Bangladesh witnessed yet another devastating tragedy when a chemical explosion in a garment factory in Rupnagar, Mirpur, claimed at least sixteen lives. The fire began in the compound of a pharmaceutical company and quickly engulfed the adjoining building. The playbook is not new, of course: investigations soon confirmed that the factory had no license to store the chemicals found on site. There were no proper fire exits, no safety measures. The toxic fumes trapped the victims inside, forcing them to die an agonizing death.
But even if we changed a few details, it would be hard to tell which tragedy we are describing, because we have seen this same story unfold time and again. In 2024, the Bailey Road fire took forty-six lives. In 2010, at least one hundred and twenty-four people died in Nimtali, Dhaka. The Tazreen factory fire killed one hundred and seventeen garment workers, and countless others have perished in similar incidents since.
And what has been the state’s response to such horror? The same old script: a few temporary shutdowns, a few public promises, a few weeks of outrage, followed by silence. These cycles of neglect and performative action make it clear that these deaths are not mere accidents; they are state-mandated murders. Garment workers remain one of the most productive forces in Bangladesh’s economy, yet among the most unprotected. The Rupnagar tragedy is a cruel reminder that citizens’ lives, especially those of the working class, continue to be treated as expendable. Even the 2024 uprising could not change that reality.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives mourns the victims and stands with their families and loved ones in grief and rage. We condemn the Interim Government for its failure to protect its citizens and call on regulatory bodies such as RAJUK to take full responsibility and act decisively to deliver justice.
Stop the State-Mandated Murder.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 