A devastating fire broke out at the Beximco readymade garment (RMG) factory in the Kashimpur area of Gazipur on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1 PM, causing significant damage to the facility and raising concerns about worker safety and industrial unrest.

According to local authorities, the fire was allegedly set by unidentified individuals amid ongoing labor protests. Workers from the Beximco Group had been staging demonstrations earlier in the day, demanding payment of salary arrears¹. The situation escalated when two firefighting units arrived at the scene and were attacked by angry workers, forcing them to retreat and seek assistance from the Army¹.

The fire service reported that the blaze was brought under control after several hours of intense effort. However, the exact extent of the damage and the number of injuries, if any, are yet to be confirmed. The incident has led to the temporary closure of the factory and heightened tensions in the area².

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and have urged calm among the workers. The Beximco Group has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

This tragic event underscores the ongoing challenges in the RMG sector in Bangladesh, where labor disputes and safety concerns continue to pose significant risks to both workers and industrial operations.