Bangladesh garment factory fire kills 10

DHAKA, Bangladesh - The Associated Press

Firefighters inspect a burnt garment factory after a fire in the Bangladeshi. REUTERS photo

A fire killed 10 people at a garment factory in Bangladesh about six months after a factory building collapse that killed 1,100 people exposed the harsh and often unsafe conditions in an industry that is the world’s third-largest.

Authorities and global clothing companies have pledged to improve safety standards in Bangladesh’s garment industry after the Rana Plaza collapse and numerous other fatal accidents.

The cause of the fire at the Aswad garment factory in Gazipur outside Dhaka was not immediately known, but the government was investigating.

The fatalities included the general manager, Rashiduzzaman Mandal, said fire official Zafar Ahmed. He said the fire was doused early yesterday after firefighters labored 10 hours to bring it under control.

Factory director Emdad Hossain said 170 workers were inside the factory when the fire started and most were able to escape. Hossain said he suffered slight injuries himself.

Farhaduzzaman, another fire official, said the fire spread to two buildings that housed garment factories belonging to the Palmal Group of Industries. Another garment factory fire last November killed 112 workers.