Staff Correspondent
The rescue operation of the collapsed under-construction cement factory at Mongla in Bagerhat district was called off at around 1:00 pm on Friday as the rescuers found neither a single body nor anyone alive under the rubbles.
The factory, Mongla Cement Factory, owned by Sena Kalyan Sangshta (Army Welfare Organisation) suddenly collapsed at about 1:00pm when about 150 workers were working to mould a roof of the factory, leaving seven persons dead, many injured and a number of workers believed to be trapped under the debris.
A nine-member investigation committee with the Khulna Additional Divisional Commissioner Maruf Hossain as the chief was formed to look into the matter, said Khulna Divisional Commissioner Abdus Samad.
He said, "The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven working days."
He said that so far the rescuers had recovered seven bodies till Friday morning and the rescue operation was declared closed at around 1:00pm, 24-hour since the incident.
Apart from this, another three-member committee was formed by the Army Welfare Organisation on Thursday.  
Mongla Cement Factory Deputy Director General Captain Syed Helal Hossain told the media that there was no body now under the rubble of the collapsed building.
He said, "Some seven bodies were recovered and 46 injured workers were undergoing treatment at different hospitals."
Khulna Divisional Fire Service Deputy Director Mizanur Rahman also said that they did not find any more body or anyone alive there before suspension of the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, some local people, based on the report of an online news agency, apprehended that there were still some more bodies trapped under the debris.
The identity of three out of seven deceased could be known as Mahruf Hawlader of Rajnagar village under Rampal Upazila, Amir Akhanda of Gouramba village and Al-Amin of Bagmara of Khulna.
Our Bagerhat Correspondent Md Shah Alam Tuku reports: some 25 injured workers are undergoing treatment in the Khulna Medical College and Hospital, six in the Mongla Health Complex and 13 in the Rampal Hospital.  Besides, five injured workers returned to their residences after primary treatment.
Sena Kalyan Sangstha announced Tk one lakh to each of the dead family and it would also provide treatment facility to all the wounded until their complete recovery.
Bagerhat district administration declared Tk 20,000 to each of the dead family and Tk 5,000 to each injured person.
Local MP Talukder Abdul Khalek announced Tk 20,000 to each dead family and Tk 10,000 to each injured, sources said.
After the collapse, members of local administration, fire service , coast guard and navy rushed to the spot and began the rescue operation with the help of local people. They so far rescued about 50 workers alive.
Mongla Cement Factory was set up in 1994 on the bank of the River Pashur, which has been marketing its cement as 'Elephant Brand'.
CNBM International Engineering Company was awarded to construction work with Tk 142 crore.
On November 10, 2014 the work began and it was supposed to be completed on November 10 in the current year.
But later, ITCL, a local construction company, took the roof moulding work.
The local company began its work with 150 workers on Thursday to maul the roof (14.5 mitre height).  
Of the worker, some 60 to 70 were on the roof while the remaining was under it.
Mizan and Delwar, two workers of the building, said that the roof suddenly collapsed. They thought the incident took place due to faulty in the construction work.