Chapter 1: Introduction

Workplace accidents indicate to a notification that something is wrong with men, methods,
investigation and then in Act. Article 23 of UDHR 1948 guaranteed the right of every human
being to work, as well as the right to a just and favorable working environment. The right to a
favorable working environment would mean safety in the workplace and other relevant matters.
Clause 2(b) of Article 7 of ICESCR has discussed fair and secure working conditions for staff. 1
To establish and practice UDHR and ICESCR 's aforementioned instructions, the International
Labor Organization has established some International Labor Standards and enacted a set of
Occupational Safety and Health Conventions that serve as the most influential and effective one. 2
Because of non-compliance with workplace safety, every year occupational hazards lead to
permanent disability and death in various industries around the world.

Some Asian countries have implemented labour laws in order to provide employees with
maximum protection, security and benefits. They revised their labour laws with changing
circumstances whereas in 2006, Bangladesh codified its labour laws, replacing as many as 50
laws of the British colonial regime and the Pakistan era. In Bangladesh domestic Law indicates
that employers are obliged to monitor and maintain safe and secure working practices and the
environment, including the avoidance of all types of occupational health and safety threats to
workers. It is also the employee’s responsibility to collaborate with the employer to maintain a
safe and secure working environment.3

1 Dinesh Mohan, 'Montreal Declaration: People's Right to Safety' [2003] 6(2) Health and Human
Rights <10.2307/4065441> accessed 22 September 2020
2 International Labour Standards on Occupational Safety and Health. https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-
covered-by-international-labour-standards/occupational-safety-and-health/lang--en/index.html, last accessed 22th
September, 2020.

3 https://green.edu.bd/wp-content/uploads/PDFs/Journals/GURSS/v-2-i-
1/PROTECTION_OF_WORKERS_IN_WORKPLACES.pdf

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However, the tragic collapse, construction site and fire incident clearly represented the major
shortcomings of the existing legal safeguard framework under Bangladesh's labour laws.

Chapter 2: Overview in Safety conditions at Bangladesh

2.1. Fire Accident

A data presented by BFSCD source which shows that in from the year 2004 to year 2019 there
were a total 232755 fire incidents happened throughout the country, as a result the total number
of death due to fire hazard was 2154 and 11185 people were injured in the last 16 years. 4 The
Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense said that the uprising events of fire incidents spread
due to lack of awareness and negligence when structures were constructed.5

In Bangladesh fire and industries are closely intertwined. In industries, unplanned workplace
settings, electrical short circuits, faulty electrical wiring, smoking materials, boiler explosion,
kitchen stove, and carelessness caused fire accident issues, and mainly due to the lack of concern
of industry-owners regarding safety matters. In addition, in the case of a fire, industry
management avoids the need for means of escape from the affected area to a safe area. Many
deaths and injuries occurred because of inadequate means of escape. The cause of death is often
not direct fire. Many workers also died as a result of trampled, inadequate escape routes and
number of stairs, smoke and suffocation. In short, their inability to escape from fire existing
place.6

Some major Fire hazard

4 Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense (BFCD). http://www.fireservice.gov.bd/

5 Mamun, S., 2020. Why so many recent fires?. Dhaka Tribune, [online] Available at:
<https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2017/03/17/many-recent-fires> [Accessed 22 September 2020]
6 Shireen Akhter and others, 'Health and occupational safety for female workforce of garment industries in
Bangladesh' [2010] 41(1) Journal of Mechanical Engineering <DOI: 10.3329/jme.v41i1.5364> accessed 11
September 2020

8|Page
A fire broke out in a country as a result of unplanned city expansion and violated the safety laws
and regulations. Most of the massive fires occurred mainly in Dhaka. Like-

• Fire tragedy in Tazreen:

The fire, probably triggered by a short circuit in September 2012, began at the factory’s ground
floor and trapped the staff on the floors above. The fire was able to spread rapidly to other floors
due to a large amount of fabric and fiber in the warehouse, which hampered the firefighting
operations. In this tragic incident, 123 workers died and injured more than 200.7

• FR Tower Fire accident

The fire started on the eighth floor of FR Tower which is located at Banani in March 2019. The
source of the fire was not cleared by fire service committee. At a press meeting, the Public
Worker Minister said that it was the corruption and greed of the tower owners, developers and
RAJUK officials that resulted the FR Tower fire tragedy which took 26 lives and injured so
many.8

• Old Dhaka Tragedy

A fire broke out from a Chemical factory at Chawkbazar in Old Dhaka in February 2019 which
managed to douse long hours’ efforts. According to FSCD officials, the fire spread in minutes to
several adjacent buildings, since these warehouses were filled with highly flammable materials.
In this hazard, 78 people died and many people were injured for massive flames. The
Chawkbazar fire incident is a replication of the one that happened in Nimtoli which is also
located in Old Dhaka. Nimtoli fire tragedy occurred in 2010, took 124 people’s lives.9

7 Saad Hammadi, 'Bangladesh Textile Factory Fire Leaves More Than 100 Dead' Shahidul News (2012)
<http://shahidulnews.com/bangladesh-textile-factory-fire-leaves-more-than-100-dead/> accessed 10 September
2020.
8 The daily star, 2019. Greed of owners, Rajuk caused FR tower fire: Minister. [online] Available at:
<https://www.thedailystar.net/country/greedy-owners-rajuk-caused-dhaka-banani-fr-tower-fire-minister-1725793>
[Accessed 10 September 2020].
9 Mohammed Norul Alam Raju, 'Nimtoli To Chawkbazar' Financial Express (2020)
<https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/views/nimtoli-to-chawkbazar-1551107901> accessed 9 September 2020.

9|Page
2.2. Building Collapsed

The urban planning area is affecting with the inappropriate design of buildings. This
disorganized urban planning, defective design, frequent inclination to narrow streets, unapproved
installation of electrical lines and inadequate fire precautionary tools have brought risk with
unskilled services.10 Risk is also caused by inadequate construction of infrastructure and
insufficient provision of public services in an area.11

The Rana Plaza building collapsed in Dhaka in April 2013, where 5 garment factory workers
were working. The death toll increased to 1,129 and about 2,515 wounded people were rescued
alive from the building but became physically disabled. The collapse of Rana Plaza is considered
to be the worst catastrophic structural failure in recent human history that urged the government
to think about employee safety problems at work.

According to the BFSCD, the upper floors are the key factors which are constructed without a
permit. . Current evidence suggests the Rana Plaza was an illegally designed building that
ignored several security inspections. After that disaster, the standard of the 'security audits'
become evidently questionable.12

2.3. Construction Site Accident

In Bangladesh, a large number of incidents are taking place where many workers died or injured
at the construction sites. Many factors are directly and indirectly responsible in many ways
behind this large number of accidents. Some causes that are very influencing to occurring
construction sites accident are illustrated below:

10 Tanima Wahed, 'Impact Of Facility Management On Fire Safety Crisis In Bangladesh’S AEC Industry' (Master,
Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Science 2018).
11 Jubaida Gulshan Ara, 'A Comparative Analysis Of Bangladesh Building Construction Rules In Terms Of Urban
Greening' (2014) 9 Journal of Applied Science and Agriculture <http://www.aensiweb.com/old/jasa/rjfh/Special
%206%20IPNCS%202014/107-111.pdf> accessed 10 September 2020.
12 Norm Keith, 'Legal implications of Bangladesh factory collapse' (CANADIAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, 22
July 2014 ) <https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/news/opinion/legal-implications-of-bangladesh-factory-
collapse/187303> accessed 10 September 2020

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 Most of the contractors do not know the safety legislation properly, nor do they follow
security policy. The law enforcement authorities still aren't strict about the construction site
safety legislation. Those who know about protection take the opportunity to ignore this and those
who don't know are not interested in knowing it.

 A large number of workers do not get either any professional training or safety
equipment. Contractors and owners show less interested to develop safety designs for workers.
Sometimes many accidents occur due to unfit equipment at the construction sites.

 The irregular investigation by consultants and inadequate safety policies adopted by

management is one of the significant reasons. It purely indicates the vulnerable and poor state of
management systems in the construction projects.13

Overall, it can be said that in Bangladesh construction safety for employees is absolutely not
good enough and not in an acceptable range.

2.4. Harassment at Workplace

Harassment practices have been carried out massively now-a-days in the workplace. The
different author explains the harassment term as an unwelcoming activity at workplace such as
workplace bullying, violence, aggression and sexual harassment. In Bangladesh, workplace
bullying and sexual harassment is the most common problem in the workplace.

- Sexual Harassment

As per the Constitution of Bangladesh, Article 20 recognized “work” as a right for every citizen.
Along with that, Article 19(3) mentions that a State shall ensure equal opportunities and women's

13 Shakil Ahmed, 'Causes of Accident at Construction Sites in Bangladesh' [2019] 11(1) Organization, Technology
and Management in Construction: an International Journal
<https://content.sciendo.com/configurable/contentpage/journals$002fotmcj$002f11$002f1$002farticle-p1933.xml>
accessed 08 September 2020

11 | P a g e
participation in all fields of national life.14 That means, women have the right to work and equal
opportunity with male colleagues at workplace. However, women are assaulted and victimized at
work either verbally or physically or sexually.

Giving a female employee personal gifts in the office, blocking a woman's path, sending flying
kisses can be called sexual assault. Examples of sexual harassment involve standing next to a
woman and touching her hair, hands, shoulders and back etc.; calling a woman 'doll' or 'honey’;
shifting conversations to sexual issues; questioning one about her sexual life; spreading gossip
about a woman's sexual personal life.15

In Bangladesh, many female workers get jobs with the help of men who often demand sex in
exchange. Women workers are humiliated and insulted in various ways by their male
counterparts. Women workers are not granted the respect and integrity as their male counterparts.
Working-class women always have afraid to risk their sexual security, and they are not
safeguarded by the management.16 Thus, women’s rights are violated, which is against humanity.

When people think about sexual harassment at work, they picture a man assaulting a woman.
There are still some different cases in which males harass males, women harass men and women
harass women. Sexual assault victims always fear they’re somehow to blame for the unwanted
sexual advances. Especially when the harasser is from the same sex. Therefore, it is hard to
report and prove this type of sexual assault.17

14 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH, Available at:

http://old.bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/pdf_part.php?id=367
15 JahidAl Mamun , 'Sexual Harassment in Workplace: Introducing the Principle of Tortious Liability in
Bangladesh' (Dhaka Law Review , 1 July 2017) <http://www.dhakalawreview.org/blog/2017/07/sexual-harassment-
in-workplace-introducing-the-principle-of-tortious-liability-in-bangladesh-1333> accessed 10 September 2020
16 MuhammadFaizul Sarker and others, 'Sexual Harassment of Female Workers at Manufacturing Sectors in
Bangladesh' [2019] 2(3) Journal of Economics and Business
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335867492_Sexual_Harassment_of_Female_Workers_at_Manufacturing
_Sectors_in_Bangladesh> accessed 10 September 2020
17 Sherri Gordon, 'How Common Is Female Sexual Harassment?' (Verywell Mind, 25 June 2020)
<https://www.verywellmind.com/how-common-is-female-to-female-sexual-harassment-4134990#citation-2>
accessed 10 September 2020

12 | P a g e
- Bullying Harassment

Bullying indicates regularly aggressive, irrational conduct and negative actions by individuals
against one or more persons in the work environment. These ill-treatments and ill-practices harm
individuals to such a level that they feel insecure in a situation where they cannot protect
themselves. This is a systemic negative social act that intensified a process of targeting and
threatening those with an inferior role. Therefore, several problems can be described as
workplace bullying such as victimization and threat of humiliation to the professional standing;
rudeness and use of violence to personal reputation; social rejection; disproportionate workload
with imminent goals and lack of acknowledgment where error is due or frequently reported.18

Chapter 3: Legal Mechanisms

From the last few years, Bangladesh had been passed a trembling situation for different types of
hazardous incidents. Fire incidents in Old Dhaka, Banani FR Tower and Gulshan DNCC Market,
and fire in different garment industries, building collapsed and building construction site safety
scenarios raise questions about the implementation safety laws for employees.

Under the BCR 1996, rule 17(1) mention that the construction must require an emergency escape
gate on any floor that joins to the last floors. This rule also states to install fire extinguishers as
well as with fire alarms as a warning to evacuate the building. 19 According to rule 22 of FPER
2014 specify that the building owner will apply for a building occupancy permit after the
completion of the infrastructure.20

These rules require the government officials to inspect the building, investigate whether the
owner fulfills all the standards of the public safety building code or not. According to that
provision, if the applicant fails to incorporate these fundamental safety protocols into the

18 Ikramul Hasan, A.N.M. Shibly Noman and Bushra Sanjana, WORKPLACE BULLYING: A CASE ON SERVICE
SECTOR EMPLOYEES (Independent Business Review 2019) <http://www.sb.iub.edu.bd/wp-
content/uploads/2020/05/A7.pdf> accessed 11 September 2020.
19 The Building Construction Rules, 1996. Available at: http://www.clcbd.org/document/132.html
20 FIRE SAFETY ACT 2014. Available at: http://ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/101686/122634/F-
1660990843/GBR101686.pdf

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structural design of the building then his request would be denied. Nevertheless, in reality
owners manage to get permission to continue with the rest of the work.

Similarly, Part 3 and Part 4 of the BNBC 2006 respectively monitors building requirements,
regulations and Fire protection construction to provide a reasonably safe means of escape from
hazard building. Here mention that all buildings built for employer or storage shall have
sufficient exit facilities to enable the employers to evacuate safely and quickly without assistance
in the event of a fire or any other emergencies.21 It is sad but true that in most of the fire incident
cases there have neither a fire alarm nor any emergency escape route for employers for saving
their lives. As a result, fire incidents in Garments industries, Chemical industries, High rise
buildings and Market place tragedies took lots of people’s lives and injured so many.

Regarding Labor, Bangladesh has its domestic laws and regulations in ‘The Bangladesh Labour
Act 2006’ mentioning working place health and hygiene in Sections 51-60, safety related
sections 61-78 and special provisions of health, hygiene and safety in sections 79-88.

BLA, 2006 Section 61 places a strong emphasis on the inspector's judgment in assessing most of
the occupational safety issues.22 However, in the BLA the guidelines are ambiguous about when
and how inspections will be carried out because all the required duties cannot be assured simply
by inspecting an establishment.

In the case of Tazreen Fashion, Wal-Mart performed an audit for the special liability practice of
Tazreen, and it was noted as a problematic warehouse. In that situation, Wal-Mart could have
established a remediation program by developing a corrective action plan with Tazreen and other
stakeholders. He decided not to do, however, instead continue his relationship with Tazreen, as a
result, a tragic fire incident occurred.23

Another noteworthy aspect of the Act is that, under Section 86, it requires employees to express
their safety issues to employers. If the employer neglect to resolve these issues, they will be
responsible for compensation if a worker is injured as a result. In Rana Plaza case, workers

21 BANGLADESH NATIONAL BUILDING CODE 2006. Available at:

https://law.resource.org/pub/bd/bnbc.2006/gov.bd.bnbc.2006.01.pdf
22 Bangladesh Labour Act 2006. Available at: http://www.dpp.gov.bd/upload_file/gazettes/14212_75510.pdf
23 Surya Deva and David Birchall, Research Handbook On Human Rights And Business (Edward Elgar 2020).

14 | P a g e
informed their employers about the appearance of creak in building, instead they are compelled
to continue their work inside the building and that’s why thousands of workers died for
collapsing that building. So, there have lacked in transparency from employer’s side. Thus, this
produces become a punishing strategy rather than a preventive which suppresses its
effectiveness.

For Construction safety, BNBC 2006 section 7 provides safety measure rule and clearly states
that Workers should wear helmets and protective equipment and that all temporary stairs, ladders
and scaffolds should be built substantially so as not to create a hazardous situation for workers
who use them or for workers and the general public who move under or near them. 24 However,
just casual observation would disclose that these provisions are indeed violated. The construction
industry does not receive any pressure to reforms negligence in safety measures from foreign
buyers (and their consumers). As a result, there has no regulatory agency to ensure the
implementation of workers' protection legislation.25

In the High Court Division case BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others where the High Court
orders the authorities to enact appropriate legal action and to exercise its legislative duties
relating to safety concerns and functions under the rules and regulations. They have to take
proper steps upon those employers or owners who breach the laws.26

Furthermore, BLA 2006 addresses concerns regarding conduct towards women in Section 332.
But in terms of harassment, the wording of the Section is too vague and this amended provision
does not mention any consequence for its violation. Under the Penal Code section 354 and
section 509 and Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000 section 10 deals with the term ‘Sexual
Harassment’ where it is considered as a criminal act. However, in those sections the problematic
wording of this law encourages gender assumptions and unjustified arguments about a woman's
"modesty" that could end up victimizing her rather than offering protection.27
24 Md Ikra, 'Enforcing Fire Safety Requirements' The Daily Star (2019) <https://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-
rights/news/enforcing-fire-safety-requirements-1723645> accessed 28 August 2020.
25 C Roy and MS Islam, 'Hazards And Safety Issues At Construction Sites In Bangladesh' (2019) 5 MOJ Civil
Engineering <https://medcraveonline.com/MOJCE/MOJCE-05-00149.pdf> accessed 5 September 2020.
26 BLAST VS Bangladesh and others [2004] 218 (HCD)
27 Taqbir Huda, 'Sexual Harassment And The Law: Where’S The Problem?' Daily Star (2019)
<https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/human-rights/news/sexual-harassment-and-the-law-wheres-the-problem-

15 | P a g e
The High Court Division of Bangladesh made some recommendations in the case of “BNWLA
vs. Bangladesh” regarding sexual harassment of women.28 In reality those recommendations are
hardly followed by the owner or employers at workplace.

By analyzing the BLA 2006 get to know that many of its safety provisions are very ambitious
and there have many deficiencies. Lack of implementation of laws, shortage of qualified
inspectors, altogether mean that occupational safety remains as one of the major concerns for the
workforce in Bangladesh.

Chapter 3: Safety in other countries

Globally workplace safety is a momentous issue that has been related to major incidents which
have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. Safety laws must be imposed by obligations to
ensure safety at work by different parties, as well as punishment for offences against safety. In
most Asian countries, there have several national rules and regulations concerning Occupational
safety which plays a significant role in the improvement of workplace environment.29

Malaysia:

The National Council of Occupational Safety and Health is the management body for
occupational health and safety in Malaysia. It focuses on improving the administration of safety
laws and implementing them. Their employers are required to employ a trained one to serve as a
health and safety officer to ensure that all occupational safety measure is met in the workplace.
Every workplace must have a committee concerning safety measures. The committee consists of
a chairperson, a secretary and both employer and employee members. The Malaysian OSH
legislation is ergonomic-centric for its increasing importance in workplaces.30

Singapore:
1762759> accessed 3 September 2020.
28 2011 BLD (HCD) 31
29 Tsuyoshi Kawakami and Kazutaka Kogi, 'Action-Oriented Support For Occupational Safety And Health
Programs In Some Developing Countries In Asia' (2015) 7 International Journal of Occupational Safety and
Ergonomics <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10803548.2001.11076499> accessed 20 September
2020.

16 | P a g e
The Occupational Safety and Health Division is the main national safety commission. They work
closely with stakeholders to enhance safety and health at workplace through legislation,
regulations, capacity building and commitment programs. Their strategies are mainly reducing
occupational death and injury rate. Along with that, The Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006
set the legal requirements for workplace safety and welfare in Singapore for helping the
government to build national occupational health and safety policies. Its major aspects are to
develop the capabilities safety facility in industry, promote safety and health at the workplace
and identify best practices among industries and create appropriate OSH practices.31

The government's key function is to control the overall direction of occupational health and
safety, manage and enforce compliance, and set a good example for a good occupational health
and safety culture as the largest employer in Singapore.32

Taiwan:

The OSH Act, formerly known as the Labour Safety and Health Act, has been amended to
include all employees, including the self-employed, and all employers in all sectors must comply
with enacted safety laws on workplace for physical and mental stress protection. The current Act
implemented the establishment of a certification system for machinery, equipment and tools; a
chemical registry and classification management system; maternal health protection measures;
and a control regime for routine process safety evaluations for high-risk business.33

30 KHAIRIAH BINTI SOEHOD and LEKHA KUNJU PILLAI LAXMAN, 'Law On Safety And Health In
Malaysia' (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 2003). Available at: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/2660/
31 Ministry of Manpower, Occupational safety and health profile. Singapore: Ministry of Manpower;2007
available at: https://www.mom.gov.sg/-/media/mom/documents/safety-health/reports-stats/wsh-profile/osh-profile-
2006.pdf?la=en&hash=7D695DF707DEF947B7310A9CF3A54344

32 Surasak Buranatrevedh, 'Occupational Safety And Health Management Among Five ASEAN Countries:
Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, And Singapore' (2015) 98 Journal of the Medical Association of
Thailand; Chotmaihet thangphaet
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280498014_Occupational_safety_and_health_management_among_five_
ASEAN_Countries_Thailand_Indonesia_Malaysia_Philippines_and_Singapore> accessed 20 September 2020.
33 Roy Maurer, 'Taiwan’S New Workplace Safety Law Expands Scope, Regulates ‘Overwork’' (SHRM, 2014)
<https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/risk-management/pages/taiwan-workplace-safety-law.aspx>
accessed 20 September 2020.

17 | P a g e
In case of emergencies, the legislation automatically grants employees the right to leave and take
cover and it stipulates that, due to violations of safety and health laws, host employers and
contractors are jointly responsible for workplace injuries. Taiwan’s Occupational Safety
Administration emphasized punishment through various range of fine for violating safety rules.34

So, it is clear that some Asian countries enacted large number of Laws and Regulations for
occupational safety challenges and strictly enforced them. Their safety authorities mainly
focused on liability protection to prevent fatality hazards in workplace.35

Chapter 5: Conclusion

5.1 Recommendation:

An unsafe work environment cannot change overnight. Workplace safety issues can be overcome
if the government and employer both take some required measures. Following suggestions can
relieve the root level problem and help increase occupational safety in Bangladesh.

 Government would have to make the laws compact and effective to ensure the highest
level of Protection at work, by following OSH procedures.
 In order to balance the relationship between owners, workers and the government, trade
unions should be free from politics to help workers; they pressure the government and
owners to increase OSH following mandates and objectives.
 More scope should be given for NGOs to raise social awareness about the Safety and
health at work environment;

34 Adeeba Raheem and others, 'Comparative Analysis Of Construction Safety In Asian Developing
Countries', “Construction Challenges in the New Decade" (2011)
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292238752_Comparative_analysis_of_construction_safety_in_Asian_de
veloping_countries> accessed 20 September 2020.
35 Randall D Shaw, 'An Overview Of Occupational Health And Safety Laws And Regulations In Asia And The
Middle East' (REDLOG, 2015) <http://www.redlogenv.com/worker-safety/an-overview-of-worker-health-and-
safety-laws-and-regulations-in-asia> accessed 20 September 2020.

18 | P a g e
  The inspection team, with the assistance of factory safety committees, should ensure
regular monitoring and inspection to evaluate working conditions, safety & security with
regard to license management, certificates, and examinations.
 The Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF) and the Bangladesh OSHE foundation
should be able to receive feedback on occupational safety and health.

5.2 Conclusion

In Bangladesh, employers were found unwilling to accept responsibility and provide poor
facilities at workplace for employees. Though Bangladesh Labour law does not have lacked in
regulations on occupational safety, but there has obviously a lack of enforcement and
compliance.36 Bangladesh domestic laws do not properly mention any provision for breaching
safety laws which are misused by the employers’ and the government remain unruffled about
them.37

Guidelines or other similar documents in some Asian countries are provided by the responsible
regulatory authority to explain and provide more information about how laws and regulations
should be enforced. Some Asian countries prove that if government officials and employers
want, they can maintain a good safety culture at workplace by providing appropriate laws and
enforcing them.38

Therefore, safety in the workplace may not be achievable without careful monitoring by
Government officials and effective law enforcement. In addition, a significant number of
Bangladeshi employees are unaware of the security laws. They need preparation, support and

36 Sakhawat Sajjat Sejan, 'Bangladesh’S Position On Occupational Safety And Health: An Analysis' (2018) 1 SCLS
Law Review <http://sclsbd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/9.-Shakhawat-Sejan-Occupational-Safety.pdf> accessed
28 August 2020.
37 https://green.edu.bd/wp-content/uploads/PDFs/Journals/GURSS/v-2-i-
1/PROTECTION_OF_WORKERS_IN_WORKPLACES.pdf
38 Muhammad Irfan Khan, 'Developing A Safety Culture In Developing Countries', International Conference on
Safety, Construction Engineering and Project Management (2013)
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276488208_Developing_a_Safety_Culture_in_Developing_Countries>
accessed 21 September 2020.

19 | P a g e
encouragement from employers that can significantly reduce the number of deaths and injuries.
Safety policies can be established in accordance with the guidelines and strategies of OSH
conventions provided by the ILO guaranteeing OSH for employees should not be seen as a
burden, but rather as a powerful mechanism to enhance the growth of the labor industry.

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8. Sarker A, Haque F, 'Sexual Harassment of Female Workers at Manufacturing Sectors in
Bangladesh' [2019] 2(3) Journal of Economics and Business

Thesis/dissertations

1. Wahed T, 'Impact Of Facility Management On Fire Safety Crisis In Bangladesh’S AEC

Industry' (Master, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Science 2018)
2. SOEHOD K, and LAXMAN L, 'Law On Safety And Health In Malaysia' (Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia 2003)

Conference papers/proceedings

1. Khan M, 'Developing A Safety Culture In Developing Countries', International

Conference on Safety, Construction Engineering and Project Management (2013)
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276488208_Developing_a_Safety_Culture_in
_Developing_Countries> accessed 21 September 2020
2. Raheem A and others, 'Comparative Analysis Of Construction Safety In Asian
Developing Countries', “Construction Challenges in the New Decade" (2011)
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292238752_Comparative_analysis_of_constru
ction_safety_in_Asian_developing_countries> accessed 20 September 2020

Project

1. SOEHOD K and LAXMAN L. K, 'Law On Safety And Health In Malaysia' (Universiti

Teknologi Malaysia 2003). Available at: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/2660/

Newspaper articles

1. Hammadi S, 'Bangladesh Textile Factory Fire Leaves More Than 100 Dead' Shahidul
News (2012) <http://shahidulnews.com/bangladesh-textile-factory-fire-leaves-more-than-
100-dead/> accessed 10 September 2020

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 2. Huda T, 'Sexual Harassment And The Law: Where’S The Problem?' Daily Star (2019)
<https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/human-rights/news/sexual-harassment-and-the-
law-wheres-the-problem-1762759> accessed 3 September 2020
3. Ikra M, 'Enforcing Fire Safety Requirements' The Daily Star (2019)
<https://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-rights/news/enforcing-fire-safety-requirements-
1723645> accessed 28 August 2020
4. Mamun S, 'Why So Many Recent Fires?' Dhaka Tribune (2020)
<https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2017/03/17/many-recent-fires>
accessed 22 September 2020
5. Raju M, 'Nimtoli To Chawkbazar' Financial Express (2020)
<https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/views/nimtoli-to-chawkbazar-1551107901>
accessed 9 September 2020
6. The daily star, 'Greed Of Owners, Rajuk Caused FR Tower Fire: Minister' (2019)
<https://www.thedailystar.net/country/greedy-owners-rajuk-caused-dhaka-banani-fr-
tower-fire-minister-1725793> accessed 10 September 2020

Website

1. Shaw R, 'An Overview Of Occupational Health And Safety Laws And Regulations In
Asia And The Middle East' (REDLOG, 2015) <http://www.redlogenv.com/worker-
safety/an-overview-of-worker-health-and-safety-laws-and-regulations-in-asia> accessed
20 September 2020
2. Maurer R, 'Taiwan’S New Workplace Safety Law Expands Scope, Regulates ‘Overwork’'
(SHRM, 2014) <https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/risk-
management/pages/taiwan-workplace-safety-law.aspx> accessed 20 September 2020
3. Keith N, 'Legal implications of Bangladesh factory collapse' (CANADIAN
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, 22 July 2014 )
<https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/news/opinion/legal-implications-of-bangladesh-
factory-collapse/187303> accessed 10 September 2020
4. Mamun J , 'Sexual Harassment in Workplace: Introducing the Principle of Tortious
Liability in Bangladesh' (Dhaka Law Review , 1 July 2017)
<http://www.dhakalawreview.org/blog/2017/07/sexual-harassment-in-workplace-

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 introducing-the-principle-of-tortious-liability-in-bangladesh-1333> accessed 10
September 2020
5. Gordon S, 'How Common Is Female Sexual Harassment?' (Verywell Mind, 25 June
2020) <https://www.verywellmind.com/how-common-is-female-to-female-sexual-
harassment-4134990#citation-2> accessed 10 September 2020

Web links:

1. International Labour Standards on Occupational Safety and Health.

https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-covered-by-international-labour-
standards/occupational-safety-and-health/lang--en/index.html, last accessed 22th
September, 2020
2. https://green.edu.bd/wp-content/uploads/PDFs/Journals/GURSS/v-2-i-
1/PROTECTION_OF_WORKERS_IN_WORKPLACES.pdf
3. Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense (BFCD). http://www.fireservice.gov.bd/
4. Ministry of Manpower, Occupational safety and health profile. Singapore: Ministry of
Manpower;2007 available at: https://www.mom.gov.sg/-/media/mom/documents/safety-
health/reports-stats/wsh-profile/osh-profile-2006.pdf?
la=en&hash=7D695DF707DEF947B7310A9CF3A54344

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