Centenarian Abdul Hamid of Jamalpur was one of the desperate. His son, Mizanur Rahman, 20, a knitting operator of the factory, died in the collapse.

"The authorities of the factory have frequently changed the date of disbursing compensation, and I have not received a single penny as of today," said Abdul. "If they continue to do so, I fear I will not receive the compensation, as I can not keep moving from Jamalpur to Savar thrice in a week at this age."

Hamid, reduced to tears in front of the collapse site, said officers from BGMEA told them to throng the factory premises to receive their compensation. "I could not come here to get my son's dead body, but I have to come here regularly to get compensation."

The delay in compensation has caused widespread despair among relatives of the dead and injured. Many of the injured, meanwhile, have been compelled to go to their village homes, without completing their medical treatment.

"Hafiz, with his broken waist and legs, fled from Palashbari several days before along with his wife," said Laily, a neighbor of Hafiz, who worked as a knitting operator in the factory. "He will never stand straight and work as he could not complete treatment because of financial constraints."

Some families have fled in the night, as they owe money to nearby grocery shop owner, landlords, and neighbors.

"I can not go home as I owe my neighbors Tk 2700, which they lent me for my husband's burial in Kushtia," said Rekha, wife of Monir, an electrician killed in the collapse. "I do not know how I will survive with my child if I do not get more compensation.

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Meanwhile, the factory authorities have given employees half of their outstanding salaries, while their salaries for overtime duty still remain unpaid.

"They gave me Tk 1,100 against my due salary of Tk 2,200, saying we should realize the loss of our owner," said a helpless Achhia, adding, "the authorities also refused to give me two months outstanding bills for my overtime duty."

Distraught workers say the do not know how they will cope in the uncertainly hanging over their compensation. "Giving us half of our outstanding salary, the factory authorities informed us no bill for overtime duty would be paid as the owner suffered a huge loss," said Hajera, a knitting operator. "How will I be freed from my debt of Tk 3000 by my halved salary of Tk 2000?"