Representatives of Sromik Nirapotta Forum (Workers� Safety Forum) a coalition of 14 organisations that seeks to promote industrial safety and protect workers� interests, met with BGMEA leaders yesterday (6 March) in the BGMEA Conference Hall. Dr. Hamida Hossain, Shirin Akhter, Khushi Kabir, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Mashhuda Khatun, Taslimur Rahman, Nur Khan and Tanjib-ul Alam met BGMEA president and his colleagues and raised concerns with the absence of health and safety conditions in garment factories, inadequate accident compensation paid to workers and treatment of workers injured in Spectrum Sweater Industries and KTS Textile and Garment Industries.

A total number of 64 workers have been killed by the inferno at KTS Textile in Chittagong o­n 23^rd February 2006. Some of the workers have been passing crucial time in Dhaka and Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Family members of 21 amongst 64 killed workers have received compensation from Bangladesh Garments Manufacturer and Exporters Association (BGMEA) till 16^thMarch 2006. The amount of compensation provided by the BGMEA per person is Taka o­ne hundred thousand o­nly; 21 thousand of which will have to receive through the court. Moreover, in the mean time, the official investigation committee of the government has been published its report o­n the inferno and has mentioned that there was an welding in the factory o­n 23^rd and that caused the fire.