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The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has advised its members to immediately inspect their factory buildings for any structural flaws following Friday's earthquake, warning of possible aftershocks and urging factories to strengthen safety systems.
In a notification issued on Saturday, the apparel apex body said that after any major earthquake, there remains a significant risk of large aftershocks, which can pose serious threats to life and property. "Therefore, it is very important for us to be alert in this regard," the BGMEA cautioned.
Since a large number of employees work in garment factories, it is very important to strengthen the structural safety of factory buildings, the BGMEA suggested. There are many types of machines in factory buildings that generate continuous vibrations while some sensitive places inside the units like elevators, boilers, generators, sub-stations, if damaged, can cause serious accidents at any time, it said.
As a result, a large number of workers may be injured, the BGMEA said, recommending immediate inspection of factories by structural or civil engineer to assess buildings for any cracks or other structural flaws to protect the buildings from aftershock or subsequent earthquake damage. It also advised inspecting elevators, boiler rooms, generator rooms, sub-stations by qualified engineers.
An earthquake, measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, shook Bangladesh on Friday morning (November 21) that left around a dozen people dead and scores injured. The country experienced another earthquake on Saturday evening at around 6:06 pm with 3.7 magnitude on the Richter scale after another tremor was felt at 10:36 am, measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale.
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