The factory fire is also believed to have injured an undisclosed number of people.
Early information collected from eyewitnesses, together with discussions including factory management and Safety Committee members, as well as preliminary assessments carried out by engineers from the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), suggests that the incident may have been initiated by a spark from an electrical line in the area near the factory’s boundary.
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This likely ignited gas, possibly from LPG or CNG, resulting in an explosion and subsequent fire.
According to the International Accord, the blaze then extended into a nearby parking zone where a number of vehicles were parked were damaged.
The RSC has pledged to maintain oversight of the circumstances in the affected area.
Both the RSC and the International Accord have stated that maintaining safe working conditions for all employees continues to be a joint responsibility.
“We reaffirm our dedication to working with all relevant stakeholders and partners to build and maintain a culture of health and safety that prevents such tragedies within the RMG sector in Bangladesh,” they said in a statement.
The International Accord added: “We extend our deepest condolences to those killed and injured in the gas cylinder explosion and fire at Pretty Composite Textiles Ltd in Ashulia, Savar on Sunday, 20 September. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this incident.”
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also expressed sadness over the explosion and fire. The organisation extended sympathy to the families of the deceased, expressed hope for the recovery of the injured, and prayed for those who died.
BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan added: “Standing beside the injured people and affected families is our first and foremost priority at this moment of crisis.”
According to reporting by local newspaper The Daily Star, the families of three of the deceased have not yet initiated any legal proceedings. However, police have filed a formal case in connection to the incident.
Authorities allege that the explosion was the result of unsafe and unplanned handling of flammable materials.
The police case names six factory officers and staff, with a total of 10 to 12 individuals facing accusations.
In a statement shared on social media, Pretty Composite Textiles said it is providing financial support, through the BGMEA, to the families of the individuals who died in the incident.
Last year, at least 16 people were killed after a fire broke out in a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. At the time, the International Accord on Factory Safety told Just Style the incident served as s “stark reminder of the devastating human cost of inadequate safety measures.”
