Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Rarun-r-Rashid and his wife Rashima used to work for Tazreen Fashions, at a plant in Dhaka. When fire broke in 2012, both jumped from the fourth floor. They survived, but suffered serious injuries that left them disabled. Another 108 people died in the blaze.
Without the timely intervention of Caritas Bangladesh and its continued help, "we would be dead by now," Rarun said. In fact, since the tragedy occurred, the social wing of the Catholic Church has led the way in providing aid to the 200 or so people injured in the collapse.
Its support has gone beyond emergency first aid to include rehabilitation programmes. In the past two years, the association has in fact followed 104 victims, of all religions, all with serious injuries or burns. At present, 48 people are still receiving support.
"The first aid was financial in nature," said Edward Pallab Rozario, health co-coordinator for Caritas Bangladesh. "Thanks to the cooperation of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGEMA), we were also able to provide a monthly salary."
"Second," he added, "we provided medical treatment, including drugs and surgeries, via a number of structures".
The latter include the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), the Ma O Shishu Hospital, and the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) as well as others.
"Of course, we also provided home care, since many were unable to reach our centres," Pallab explained.
In its rehabilitation work, Caritas also "helped people start small businesses, taught them to manage better their money and offered courses in sewing and raising cows and sheep," Dr Pallab said.
Bangladesh is the world's second largest garment exporter after China. The industry accounts for more than 10 per cent of the GDP and about 80 per cent of its exports, mostly to the United States and Europe.
With about 4,500 factories, the garment sector employs more than 2 million people. According to the International Labour Rights Forum, more than a thousand workers have died in the country as a result of safety-related issues in the workplace since 2005.