729 workers killed, 433 injured in workplace accidents last year
Of those killed in workplace accidents, 723 were men and six women
As many as 729 workers were killed and 433 others injured in workplace accidents across the country last year, according to Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS).
The organisation in a newspaper survey on labour condition in Bangladesh also found that 596 workers were tortured -- 232 of them inside their workplaces and 364 outside their workplaces – over the year. The findings were shared at a review meeting at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday.
Moreover, 593 labour movements took place in various sectors, including 264 in the readymade garment sector.
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BILS Vice-Chairman Shirin Akhter, MP, presided over the prgramme while its Executive Parishad Secretary Abul Kalam Azad coordinated it. BILS Deputy Director Md Yousuf Al-Mamun presented the survey findings.
According to the survey, of those killed in workplace accidents, 723 were men and six women.
The transport sector saw the highest number of deaths -- 348 workers -- followed by 84 in the construction sector and 67 in the agriculture sector.
Fourty-nine day labourers were also killed. Those killed in workplace accidents also include 35 from the power sector, 27 from the fisheries sector, 15 workers of steel mills, 15 in the river-transportation sector, 14 in the mechanical engineering sector and 15 migrant workers.
Earlier in 2019, 1,200 workers were killed countrywide in workplace-related accidents.
That year also saw the highest number of deaths -- 516 -- in the transport sector, with the second-highest – 134 -- in the construction sector and the third highest -- 116 deaths -- in the agriculture sector.
