Ctg oxygen plants closure decision withdrawn

The Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association has withdrawn its decision to indefinitely close all the oxygen factories in Chattogram's Sitakunda.

The leaders of the organisation made the announcement of the withdrawal after a meeting with Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman on Friday.

They had declared the closure on Thursday in protest against taking Seema Group Director Parvez Uddin to court with a rope tied around his waist.

"We have suspended our movement indefinitely with the assurance of the deputy commissioner," they said after the meeting.

At this time, the deputy commissioner said, "Parvez Uddin was arrested in connection with the fire incident at the Seema Oxygen Plant in Sitakunda. Later, he was taken to the court with a rope tied around his waist which was unexpected."

Zahirul Islam Rinku, vice president of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association, said, "The owner of the Seema Oxygen Plant paid Tk10 lakh in compensation within three hours of the fire incident. But the way he was treated by police is unprecedented." 

"The deputy commissioner has assured us that the closed factory of Seema Oxygen Plant will be allowed to open very soon," he added.

Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Solaiman said, "The policeman who was involved in tying a rope around the Seema Group director's waist has been temporarily suspended by an inquiry committee."

Parvez Uddin was arrested on 14 March over the fire incident in Seema Oxygen Plant in Sitakunda. The devastating fire on 4 March killed seven people and seriously injured 25 more.