Disney, Sears Linked to Burned-Out Garment Factory

Walmart wasn't the only major American retailer selling clothes produced in the Bangladesh factory where at least 112 people died in a fire over the weekend, the AP finds. Account books found in the charred remains reveal the factory took orders from Disney, Sears, and other Western brands. Garments from Sean Combs' ENYCE label are still in the factory, as are clothes for Walmart, which was aware of safety problems at the plant.

• Bangladesh's prime minister says the fire was no accident, but "planned arson," CNN reports. Two people were arrested while trying to set fire to a garment factory near Dhaka earlier this week but they have not yet been linked to the other fire.
• Walmart says a supplier subcontracted work to the factory without its knowledge and it has now cut its ties with that supplier, reports the BBC. "The fact that this occurred is extremely troubling to us, and we will continue to work across the apparel industry to improve fire safety education and training in Bangladesh," the company said in a statement.
• As thousands marched in Bangladesh to protest factory conditions, US activists urged Combs and others to help ensure there is no repeat of the tragedy, the New York Daily News reports. "We are sure that Mr. Combs will be as shocked as we are to find that his company is implicated in such an horrific tragedy,” a spokeswoman for the Clean Clothes Campaign said. “We urge him to use his influence to make sure clothing factories are safe places for people to work."

(More Bangladesh stories.)