The recent tragic fire at Tazreen Fashions Ltd. that killed more than 111 garment workers has raised many questions. This is not the first incident of fire at a garment factory. Very often we hear about fires at garment factories. But still there is no safety measures found in the factories. The result was the deadly fire at Tazreen Fashions on November 24. Most of the entrepreneurs are more keen on making profit rather than improving the working conditions of their factories. In Bangladesh more than 4,000 readymade garment factories of different size are earning more than three-quarters of the country's export revenue. Most of the workers of these factories are women. Over the last two decades, these garment factories contributed to changing the role of poor Bangladeshi women who mostly used to work as housemaids. Although the wages are low, this industry has a positive impact on the families of the poor female workers and it has been playing a vital role in empowering them. The factories which do not have sufficient fire escape must arrangements must be shut. The government should not sit idle. It must take necessary steps for improving the working condition of the factories. Why is the factory a prison? Working in a lockup is not at all acceptable. Moreover, action must be taken against the inspectors who issued licenses to those factories without verifying the fire safety measures. Md Jalal Uddin Assistant teacher

Natore Govt. Boys'High School Natore