Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, a platform led by European brands and retailers, has debarred a local apparel making company due to noncompliance. Accord also issued warning letters to another 13 factories where remedial works for ensuring safety were not satisfactory.

Accord engineers identified serious fire safety lapses in Mega Chois Knitwear and asked the authority to evacuate the building temporarily for necessary remedial works, but the factory owner refused.The safety concerns were of such an extent that the building was determined unsafe for production and occupancy until such time that urgent remedial measures were completed and a proper exit system established.

As per the findings, the factory has only one exit for over 600 employees which has created an extremely unsafe situation. Mega Chois Knitwear is considered a non-compliant supplier and ineligible to produce for any Accord signatory companies. The factory owner says, he is not willing to upgrade safety standards as per recommendations of Accord as the company manufactures mainly for Korean buyers who are not concerned over safety standards. Accord has warned of cutting business relations with 13 more factories for their failure to take remedial steps.

bangladeshaccord.org/