850 factories spotted as 'highly risky,' yet safety drive stalled for two years
Bida, tasked with coordination effort in 2021, now seeks to relinquish the responsibility
Highlights:
- 850 factories remain at extreme risk due to stalled safety program
- Bida inspections found 2,245 factories vulnerable after 2021 fire tragedy
- Follow-up monitoring and corrective actions have largely halted since 2023
- Labour ministry cites poor coordination among seven responsible government agencies
- Bida withdraws from oversight, citing lack of mandate and manpower
- Activists blame government corruption and weak accountability for ongoing risks
The government identified some 850 factories as being at "extreme risk" of fire, electrical, and structural accidents long ago, but a nationwide monitoring and safety initiative has stalled for the past two years due to a lack of coordination and institutional willingness.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The risky factories were flagged following a large-scale inspection of over 10,000 factories across two phases in 2022 and 2023. The inspections were initiated after a devastating fire at the Hashem Foods factory in Narayanganj in 2021 claimed the lives of more than 50 workers.
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), which initially took the lead in coordinating the ambitious programme, is now seeking to relinquish the responsibility, citing a lack of core mandate and necessary manpower.
Stalled initiative
The identification of 848 "highly risky" factories and 1,397 "risky" factories – totalling 2,245 vulnerable units – came after comprehensive, integrated inspections led by Bida. These inspections involved seven government agencies, including the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the Fire Service and Civil Defence, and the Department of Explosives.
Factories were categorised into four groups: extremely risky, risky, less risky, and safe. Only 57 factories were deemed fully safe, scoring 100% on the inspection checklist.
However, the subsequent work to make these factories safe – issuing corrective action plans and monitoring compliance – has slowed to a near halt.
A senior official from the labour ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Business Standard that the identified factories primarily include local and non-export-oriented garment factories, as well as other local industrial establishments.
"The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments and the Fire Service have done some work on issuing corrective action plans and monitoring, but other agencies have done little," the official said. "Overall, there has been little progress in securing the factories, and the programme has been stagnant for two years."
Furthermore, plans to inspect an additional 2,900 factories that were targeted two years ago have not yet been carried out, leading concerned stakeholders to warn that the number of 'highly risky' factories could rise further.
Lack of accountability blamed
The issue has regained urgency following a spate of major fire accidents in various factories and establishments across the country over the last two weeks.
Labour rights activists argue that such safety drives always follow major disasters but eventually lose momentum. They blame the recurring failure on a lack of coordination and a mentality among government agencies to shirk responsibility.
Babul Akhter, general secretary of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, the country's largest labour lobby platform, placed the largest share of the blame on the government.
"The biggest responsibility for these factories remaining unsafe lies with the government," he stated. "The monitoring agencies are plagued by corruption and a lack of transparency and accountability. This is why these factories receive licenses and fail to make progress in remediation even after being flagged as risky."
Bida wants to relinquish responsibility
Bida was tasked with the coordination effort in 2021 under the direction of the then prime minister's adviser Salman F Rahman, who oversaw Bida's activities.
However, the agency has now publicly confirmed its withdrawal from the coordinating role.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of Bida, stated at a recent event: "This was primarily the job of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments. We have now ceased this work. This is not our responsibility, and Bida lacks the necessary manpower to run this programme. Since this is outside my core focus, I have already made it clear – Bida will not do this work."
Omar Md Imrul Mohsin, inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, confirmed the situation, saying, "We have heard that Bida does not want to remain in the leadership role. There might be a plan for the Ministry of Labour to take over the oversight."
Ali Ahmed Khan, former director general of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, stressed that a lack of coordination and insufficient capacity and authority among the relevant agencies are the root causes preventing the factories from being made safe.
