The International Accord is deeply saddened by the tragic fire at a garment factory and chemical warehouse in the Shialbari area of Mirpur, Dhaka, which has claimed at least 16 lives and injured many others. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims, their families, and all those affected.

This tragedy is a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of inadequate safety measures. Safe exits, unlocked gates, functioning alarms, effective fire separation, and strong emergency preparedness are essential for the safety of every worker, within and beyond the garment industry.

To our knowledge, the affected establishments are not listed by company signatories of the Bangladesh Safety Agreement and not covered by the inspections and remediation program implemented by the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) in Bangladesh. Nonetheless, this incident underscores the urgent need for comprehensive health and safety measures across all industries. 

For over a decade, the collective efforts of brands, trade unions, factories, and civil society partners under the Accord have contributed to workplace health and safety improvements at covered garment and textile factories in Bangladesh. While this includes over 2000 factories employing 2.5 million workers, it represents only part of the Bangladesh’s RMG sector.

Ensuring that every worker has access to a safe working environment must remain a shared priority and responsibility. The Accord and the RSC reaffirm their dedication to working with global brands, industry partners, worker representatives and government authorities to build and maintain a culture of health and safety that prevents such tragedies within the RMG sector in Bangladesh.

The Accord will, together with our colleagues from the RSC, continue to monitor the situation at the affected area and any potential impact on surrounding factories.

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