Updated

A lawyer says the High Court in Bangladesh's capital has asked authorities to prevent the owner of a garment factory where 112 people died in a fire last year from leaving the country.

The High Court made the request Sunday in response to a petition seeking the arrest of Delwar Hossain, the owner of Tazreen Fashions Ltd. It also asked authorities to bring Hossain before the court on May 30.

No criminal charges have been brought against Hossain, although an inquiry into the fire accused him of negligence.

Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua says the petition was presented by three anthropologists who believe the large death toll in the Nov. 24 fire resulted from Hossain's negligence.

At least 1,800 people have died in fires or building collapses in Bangladesh's garment industry since 2005.