The blast was caused by an explosion in the boiler room, at the start of the working day, officials say. The wire service added that about 100 people were believed to be inside the factory at the time.
Advertisement
More than 20 firefighting teams battled to douse the flames, which also caused the partial collapse of the four-storey building.
Chemical storage may be to blame for fire’s rapid speed, Tahmidul Islam of the industrial police unit told Agence France-Presse.
“We thought it was a plane crash”, said Sojib Babu, who lives in the neighborhood and heard the explosion.
“Experience shows us that, unless there is global public pressure, corporations operating in Bangladesh do not take action to protect worker safety”, said Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium.
The tragedy struck as families were preparing to celebrate the major Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
“I am simultaneously feeling lucky and heartbroken”, he said, tears streaming down his face as he helped to rush the many injured to hospital, his T-shirt stained with blood.
Some are still searching for their relatives, like Wridoy Barua.
“My brother Delwar Hossain told us last night he would take us to our district of Sherpur”. “I haven’t heard from him since this morning. There is no news of him”.
The food and cigarette packaging firm supplies brands including British American Tobacco and Nestle Bangladesh, according to its website.
Advertisement
At least 23 people have been killed and dozens were injured in the country’s worst industrial accident since the Rana Plaza building collapse of 2013 in which over 1,100 people died. The Rana Plaza tragedy triggered worldwide outrage and put pressure on European and U.S. clothing brands to improve pay and conditions at the factories that supply them.
