In a new turn of events to the recent Gazipur-based Matrix Sweater fire incident, it has now reportedly emerged that the company was running the sweater manufacturing unit without a license for the past 18 months. This has, however, been denied by the company management.
The mishap has injured four people, besides, destroying goods worth more than Tk 100 crore.
Also Read – 4 injured, goods worth Tk 100 crore perish in Bangladesh sweater factory fire
According to a news report carried in a Bangladesh daily, the website of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), reportedly stated that the Matrix Sweater factory (belonging to Labib Group), which reportedly supplies to H&M and J C Penney, has been operating without a license since its expiry on June 4, 2014.
The news report also mentioned that inspectors from garment buyers, who visited the factory 18 months ago, had asked the Matrix management to replace its electrical cables and equipment while Accord and Alliance reportedly suggested that the generator room be cleaned up. However, refuting the charges, the management of Matrix Sweater reportedly maintained that the factory licence was renewed in December last year for a period up to June next year.
Also Read – Speed up remediation work in garment factories, says Alliance
But when the news daily reportedly tried to get the version of Director (Finance) of Matrix Animesh Majumder about the information pertaining to the company’s license on the DIFE website, he allegedly did not say anything clearly. However, according to the news daily, DIFE Gazipur office Deputy Inspector General had reportedly stated that the factory was operating without getting its licence getting renewed.
