Bangladesh Factory Owners Face Homicide Charges

Over the deaths of 112 workers in a fire

A Bangladesh court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for two garment factory owners and four of their employees on homicide charges for the deaths of 112 workers in a fire that engulfed the factory in 2012.

It's the first time Bangladesh has sought to prosecute factory owners in the lucrative garment industry, which is the world's second largest after China. A series of deadly disasters — including the 2012 fire and a factory collapse in April that killed more than 1,100 workers — has exposed how harsh and unsafe working conditions are in the industry that employs 4 million Bangladeshis and provides clothing to major Western retailers.

Police filed homicide charges on Dec. 22 against 13 people, and the arrest warrants were issued for six who police say have fled.