Standard Group Factory Fire
Fire dept assesses Tk 531cr in loss, half the sum estimated by owner
An investigation committee formed by the Fire Service and Civil Defence to investigate fire in the garment factory of Standard Group at Konabari in Gazipur estimated Tk 531 crore in losses in the factory fire. The committee said in its report that unidentified criminals presumed to be outsiders along with rowdy workers set fire to the factory on November 28 last year.The committee submitted their reports to the director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence in late February.
Jahirul Amin, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, also the head of the probe committee, told New Age that the committee assessed the damage based on the documents and invoices provided by the factory authorities.
‘The factory authorities claimed Tk 910 crore in loss in the fire but the estimation of the investigation committee almost halved the figure and we have submitted the report to the DG of the FSCD’, he said.
Md Akteruzzaman, deputy assistant director of fire service and also a member of the committee, said that during the investigation the committee analysed many things including business documents, LC invoice and insurance documents.
Though the factory authorities claimed Tk 910 crore in loss they could not submit proper documents against their claim, he said.
‘We have estimated Tk 531 crore in loss in the fire but the amount of insurance claim of the factory is lower, as all their assets were not under insurance coverage’, Akteruzzaman said.
The overall amount of insurance claim of the company might be Tk 300 crore to Tk 350 crore, he added.
Mosharraf Hussain, managing director of the Standard group, said that recently the committee of the fire service has finalised a report on the damage in fire but I have no comment on their estimation.
Earlier, a probe committee formed by Gazipur district administration submitted its report to the government.
Four separate probe committees were formed after the fire in the garment factory of Standard Group at Konabari in Gazipur.
Another two of the four committees, one labour ministry committee is going to submit its report by this moth and another home ministry committee is yet to make any progress in the investigation, said officials concerned.
-With New Age input
