Gazipur: Some of the victims were named as accused in a lawsuit filed over the accident of explosion at a garment factory boiler in Gazipur, which left at least 13 workers dead.

The case was filed with Joydebpur police on Tuesday night against three victims and around 10 anonymous people.

Three victims are boiler operator Abdus Salam, Ershad Hossain, and Monsurul Haque, all of them died during the explosion.

Assistant sub-inspector of Chakrabarty police post under Joydebpur police station, Abdur Rashid said he filed the case.

Being asked about filing the case against some of the victims, Abdur Rashid said the case was filed on higher authorities’ order.

Dozens of workers were inside the factory on the outskirts of Dhaka when the boiler exploded on 3 July evening, causing a section of the six-storey building to collapse.

It was unclear what caused the explosion, which occurred during maintenance work on the boiler at a time when most of the factory’s 5,000 workers were off for the Eid holidays.

Authorities called off the nearly 22-hour-long search after rescuers found two more bodies in a toilet next to the destroyed boiler room, bringing the death toll to 13.

Additional district magistrate Rahinul Islam said the district administration formed an eight-member probe committee, led by him, to look into the incident.

The committee started its work on Tuesday, Rahinul said, adding that they will complete the inquiry giving priority to seven issues, including the expiry of the boiler, condition of its safety bulb and experience of directors.

As part of the investigation, the probe committee members visited the spot, met factory workers and employees, and held a meeting with experts on boiler, he said.

The additional district magistrate said they have information primarily that the boiler’s lifespan expired on June 24.

Besides, the Fire Service and Civil Defence formed a three-member committee to probe the incident.

Meanwhile, the authorities of Multi-Fabs Ltd, where the boiler exploded, closed the factory for an indefinite period, said its workers.

Besides, the authorities of 10 garment factories of the area closed their factories for Tuesday (today) following the incident.

After visiting the spot on Tuesday, State Minister for Labour and Employment M Mujibul Haque announced to provide Tk 8 lakh for each family of the deceased.

Of the compensation, the ministry will provide to Tk 5 lakh while the factory authorities the rest, he said.

Besides, this district administration provided Tk 20,000 for the burial of each deceased.