Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) yesterday afternoon handed over cheques for compensation to the family members of 17 workers who were burnt alive in the worst-ever factory fire at KTS Textile and Garments at BSCIC Industrial Area of the city's Kalurghat on February 23 this year.

Each of the family members received Tk 79 thousand in cheques while the members would get the rest Tk 21 thousand from the Labour Court as per law, sources said.

BGMEA President SM Fazlul Haque handed over the cheques to the relatives of the remaining 17 workers of 65 KTS victims, as the chief guest at a ceremony.

BGMEA First Vice President Moinuddin Ahmed Mintu chaired the ceremony.

Fazlul Haque in his speech expressed sympathy to the bereaved family members of the dead workers and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.

Moinuddin thanked the Chittagong city mayor, police commissioner, fire service and civil defence, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), DGFI and NSI for their cooperation during the disaster.

BGMEA Director and Chittagong Region Labour and Fire Standing Committee Chairman ANM Saif Uddin, former first vice president SM Abu Toyeb, Second Vice President Lutfar Rahman Matin, Fire Service Deputy Director Rashedul Islam Majumder, Workers leader Safar Ali and other BGMEA directors were present in the ceremony.

The KTS Garment and Textile Factory authority gave the compensations, salaries and allowances through the BGMEA.

It may be mentioned that, 65 garments worker were died in the fire.