Seven Die In Bangladesh Cement Factory Collapse

Rescue work has been called off at the site of an under-construction cement factory building collapse in Bagerhat after 24 hours.

At least seven workers were killed, over 50 injured and scores of others were feared trapped under tonnes of debris after the roof of an under-construction cement factory collapsed in southwestern Bangladesh.

The roof collapsed in yesterday afternoon when around 150 workers were working on the extended part of the under-construction building of Mongla Cement Factory, run by an army welfare trust.

PTI report continues:

Seven bodies have been retrieved from the rubble while 53 workers were injured, including six who are said to be in critical condition, a fire official said in Bagerhat, where the collapse occurred.

"Searches were underway to retrieve the trapped people as we have been told that over 100 people were inside the structure when it collapsed," he said.

Rescue work has been called off at the site after 24 hours.

Brig Gen Selim declared an end to the rescue operations saying, "No one else has been found dead or alive", bdnews.Com reported today.

An official of the army welfare trust said a foreign company called China National Building Material (CNBM) was entrusted with the task of building the extended part of the factory while they contracted the task of roof moulding to a Bangladeshi firm.

"The coastguard and navy soldiers joined hands with fire service in the salvage campaign," he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has mourned the deaths and ordered proper treatment of the injured.

The families of each deceased would be given 20,000 Bangladeshi Taka (US$256) and 10,000 Bangladeshi Taka (US$128) to each injured worker as compensation.

In April 2013, a nine-storey garment factory complex collapsed just outside the capital Dhaka leaving at least 1,138 people dead, the world's deadliest building collapse.