At a function at Agrabad BGMEA Bhaban conference room in the afternoon, the chief guest Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah Al Noman handed over the cheques.

The cheques for compensation were handed over to the five bereaved family members who appeared with sufficient proofs or evidence to claim it.

Families of deceased Khuki Akhter, Yasmin Begum, Amena Khatun, Mohiuddin Rana and Sumi Akhter received the cheques.

In addition to TK 79 thousand, Tk 21 thousand will be given to each deserving persons as per law through Labour Court, sources said.

BGMEA will help the victims' family members to get the rest of the money from the

Labour Court, said BGMEA 1st Vice President SM Abu Taher.

Putting the official figures of the burnt dead workers of KTS at 56, the BGMEA leaders promised to pay compensation of Tk 1 lakh for each of the other victims gradually.

The BGMEA leaders asked the family members or relatives of the KTS fire victims to contact the BGMEA leaders directly at Agrabad BGMEA Office.

Minister Abdullah Al Noman urged the BGMEA leaders to compel all the garment factory owners to maintain safety standards and be compliant to the rules to avert recurrence of such tragic incidents in future.

He asked the garments owners to take care of the workers' rights and improve the owner-workers relationships for the greater interest of the country.

The BGMEA leaders in their February 26 meeting at Agrabad office decided to absorb all the KTS factory-fire affected workers in other garments at Kalurghat BSCIC Industrial Area and provide them with financial assistant alongside making arrangement for payment of their salaries pending with KTS factory.

At the function chaired by BGMEA first Vice-President Abu Tayyab, BGMEA leaders, Chittagong Fire Service Deputy Director Rashedul Islam Mazumder, International Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Sramik League Safar Ali, and Shramik Dal President of Chittagong unit Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, among others, were present.