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Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 7:15 AM UTC

AP Exclusive: Disney, Sears used factory in fire

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Topics: From the Wires,

AP Exclusive: Disney, Sears used factory in fireBangladeshi women watch the bodies of some of the victims of Saturday's fire in a garment factory being prepared to be buried, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. Bangladesh held a day of mourning Tuesday for the 112 people killed at the factory, and labor groups planned more protests to demand better worker safety in an industry notorious for operating in firetraps. (AP Photo/Khurshed Rinku) (Credit: AP)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Order books and clothing found at a Bangladeshi factory where a fire killed 112 people show that it was making clothing for Disney Pixar, Wal-Mart, Sears and other Western brands.

The Associated Press discovered clothing and records connected to the retailers Wednesday while police announced the arrests of three factory officials who are suspected of locking in workers who were killed in Saturday’s fire.

Piles of children’s shorts from Wal-Mart’s Faded Glory brand were found among the charred equipment at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory. Blue and off-white shorts from rap star Sean Combs ENYCE label were piled on the floor and stacked in cartons.

Entries in account books in the abandoned factory showed it took orders in recent months to produce clothes for Disney and Sears, despite the factory’s spotty safety record.

Wal-Mart says the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory was making clothes for it without its knowledge. Wal-Mart had received an audit deeming the factory “high risk” last year.

Workers who survived the fire say exit doors were locked, fire extinguishers didn’t work and managers had told them to go back to work after the fire alarm rang. A fire official has said that far fewer people would have died if there had been just one emergency exit.

Local police chief Habibur Rahman said three factory officials, but not the owner Tazreen Fashions — were arrested and will be questioned about the fire amid reports that many workers trying to escape the blaze had been locked inside. The officials were arrested Wednesday at their homes in Savar, the Dhaka suburb where the factory is also located.

Rahman did not identify the factory officials or give their job status.

Local TV reports said about 3,000 garment workers held protests over the fire, blocking roads and throwing stones at some factories and vehicles. It was the third straight day of demonstrations.

Police used batons to disperse the protesters, but no injuries were immediately reported.

More Farid Hossain.

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