July 10 (UPI) — Police investigating a factory fire that killed at least 52 people in Bangladesh said Saturday eight people have been arrested in connection with the probe, including the owner of the business.
The fire broke out Thursday at the Hashem Foods factory in Rupganj, on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, and it took firefighters more than 24 hours to completely extinguish the flames from the seven-story building. At least 52 people were killed and at least 50 others were injured in the blaze, fire service officials said.
Narayanganj District Police Superintendent Zaidul Alam said Saturday that eight people have been arrested in connection with the fire. The arrested include Abul Hashem, the owner of the factory, and his four sons, who also work for the company. Police said they are seeking murder charges against the suspects.
Investigators said the factory had poor fire safety measures and multiple violations were noted including a lack of adequate stairs for an emergency evacuation and a collapsible gate on the third floor of the factory was kept closed during the fire.
Three of the people killed in the incident died after jumping off the roof of the factory in an apparent attempt to escape the flames, police said.
A separate investigation into child labor violations at the factory has been opened after it emerged that the business was employing children as young as 11 years old.