WE at the BDI, Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI), express deep sorrow at the tragic loss of lives, and offers sincere condolences to the families of the garment workers who died in the recent accidents involving fires in garment factories.

Even though it will take some time before we know for sure if these fires were accidental, what is evident is that the management has been negligent in ensuring workers safety. It seems once again that the desire for profits prevailed over prudence and good sense. Instead of ensuring a safe work environment, too many RMG owners have rented or built poorly designed buildings, overcrowded their factories and practiced unsafe production methods.

The news that workers who were trying to escape the fire were sometimes forced back and refused access to escape exits demands a criminal investigation and punishment, going all the way to the top leadership of these companies. A stiff fine, or financial compensation for the families, although appropriate, is simply not enough to prevent future recurrence.

As the governing body of garment producers and exporters, the BGMEA must take responsibility for this and other tragedies. More importantly, from the national perspective and the long-term interest of this important sector, this tragic loss of lives should not go in vain.

This incident has received global media attention; mostly negative. Incidents like these not only impact the outlook of Bangladesh, but also the longterm profits of the RMG industry. Given the sensitivities of global customers, companies like Wal-Mart are very cautious about the reputation of their suppliers. Only if appropriate lessons are learned and implemented with urgency, can future accidents be avoided. No doubt many garment factory owners treat their workers well and emphasise safety. However, the few who are not give the entire industry a bad name. The BGMEA members and the very hardworking garment workers of Bangladesh, most of whom are women, have faced serious crises before and have successfully overcome them.

The child labour crisis of the 1990s, the end of the MFA (2005), and severe disruptions from natural disasters are some of the few disruptive events that come to mind. With grit and determination, the industry -- entrepreneurs, managers, government and most importantly the workers — has overcome these to reach the pinnacle of success today.

According to some sources, the industry employs nearly 3 million workers, mostly women, and exports nearly $18 billion — a truly remarkable achievement that has transformed the economy and society of Bangladesh for the better.

As part of the greater Bangladesh civil society and the Bangladeshi Diaspora, we urge the garment owners, the BGMEA and the government regulatory bodies to work together with the workers to avoid future tragedies such as the one the nation has just experienced.

The writer is President, Bangladesh Development Initiative, a non-partisan research and advocacy group based in the United States.