Sabotage, neglect

DHAKA, Bangladesh — A Bangladesh government committee investigating the garment factory fire that killed 112 people last month said in its findings Monday that the blaze was sabotage, probably by someone who worked there.

But the panel said that no matter who set the fire, the owner of the factory also should be punished for the deaths because he neglected worker safety.

If someone is responsible for such a huge number of deaths, that's him. He has failed to ensure safety, committee head Mainuddin Khandaker said of factory owner Delwar Hossain.

Some government and garment industry officials had alleged soon after the Nov. 24 fire that it was an act of sabotage, though a fire official said casualties would have been greatly reduced if the factory had followed safety rules.

The factory lacked emergency exits and Hossain has said only three floors of the eight-story building were legally built. Surviving employees said gates had been locked and managers had told them to go back to work after the fire alarm went off.

Khandaker, an official with the Ministry of Home Affairs, told The Associated Press that committee members believe some people who worked at the factory were involved in the sabotage.

Otherwise, how come they locked the gates? How come they asked the workers to go back to work even after the fire alarm? he said.

Three factory officials suspected of locking workers inside the building were arrested.

Khandaker said the panel recommended further investigation through a powerful intelligence agency to unearth the insiders.

No matter who is responsible for setting the fire, Khandaker said, We can't spare the owner of the factory. He is responsible for his failure to ensure safety. I have recommended specifically to bring the owner under the purview of law.

Hossain tried to defend himself under questioning from the committee, Khandaker said. But I can tell you clearly that he had serious negligence as he has failed to follow existing building code and safety rules.

The committee recommended that the government form a powerful task force to ensure safety at garment factories across the country. The garment industry accounts for about 80 percent of Bangladesh's exports, and workers' rights groups say existing regulations have gone unenforced because officials fear the industry's power.

The Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory made clothing for several major U.S. retailers, including Wal-Mart, which had received a 2011 audit warning about the factory's conditions. Wal-Mart and other companies said suppliers had used the Tazreen factory without their knowledge.