51 deaths in fire: 4-day remand granted for 8 accused including Sajeeb Group chairman

A Narayanganj court today granted four-day remand for the eight accused, including owner of Hashem Foods factory in Narayanganj, in a case filed following 51 deaths in a fire at the factory.

Narayanganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Fahmida Khatun passed the order after police produced the eight accused and sought 10-day remand for each of them.

The eight accused are: Md Abul Hashem, chairman and managing director of Sajeeb Group who owns Hashem Foods factory; his four sons -- Hasib Bin Hashem, Tareq Ibrahim, Tawsiv Ibrahim, Tanjim Ibrahim; Sajeeb Group's Chief Operating Officer Shahan Shah Azad; Hashem Foods' Deputy General Manager Mamunur Rashid, its civil engineer-admin officer Salahuddin.

Earlier, inspector Nazim Uddin Majumder, in-charge of Bhulta Police outpost in Narayanganj filed the case against eight persons.  

Jayedul Alam, superintendent of police (SP) in Narayanganj, "Police arrested them from different areas. If we find anyone involved during the investigation, we will include them too," he said.

At least 48 workers -- trapped on the third floor with its only exit locked -- died when fire engulfed Hashem Foods factory building on Thursday.

Three died after jumping off the six-storey factory.

Though fire officials initially said they recovered 49 charred bodies yesterday, taking the death toll to 52, police officials have revised the number to 51.

DNA test confirmed that recovered remains thought to be two corpses were parts of the same body, said police.