Thirteen years after the Tazreen Fashions fire, survivors and labor activists gathered again in front of the abandoned factory in Nishchintapur, Ashulia, demanding long-delayed compensation, rehabilitation, and accountability. The building, still bearing burn marks, stands as a stark reminder of the 2012 tragedy in which at least 111 garment workers died and hundreds were injured after locked exits, blocked stairways, and nonexistent fire safety measures left workers trapped inside.
In the early hours of the anniversary, several injured former workers arrived from different districts and lay outside the empty structure—many of them still living with permanent disabilities, trauma, and financial hardship. Their physical presence underscored the unresolved impact of the disaster: most survivors have spent more than a decade navigating medical complications, loss of income, and the absence of state support systems.
Labor groups and families of the deceased gathered throughout the morning, marking yet another year in which the criminal case has made little progress. Filed in 2013, the case against the factory’s owner and managers has faced repeated delays, with only a small fraction of witnesses ever appearing in court. Activists argue that the lack of justice is part of a broader pattern in the garment industry, where systemic negligence, unsafe working conditions, and political protections leave workers vulnerable and employers unaccountable.
They also noted that the state has repeatedly failed to follow through on promises of compensation and rehabilitation, despite clear findings of negligence in investigation reports. The unresolved Tazreen case, they said, paved the way for later disasters—including Rana Plaza—by signaling that large-scale industrial deaths carry no real consequences.
On the 13th anniversary, the call was clear: implement long-promised compensation packages, ensure rehabilitation for injured workers, and deliver exemplary punishment to those responsible. For survivors, justice delayed for over a decade is not just a legal failure—it is a continuation of the violence that began inside the Tazreen factory walls.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 