Garment workers protest colleague's death in Bangladesh

Tensions flared in Gazipur's Sreepur upazila as garment workers resumed protests following the death of colleague Liza Begum. Workers blocked a regional road, demanding justice and compensation, alleging that Begum died early Thursday after being denied leave despite falling ill.

The protests began during a prayer gathering for Begum at Color and Company Limited. Hundreds of workers from Blue Planet Knit Wear Limited, part of the same company group, gathered to voice their demands. Sreepur Police Station Inspector (Operations) Sanjoy Saha reported that 400 to 500 workers participated before industrial police dispersed the crowd.

In the aftermath, three separate cases were filed concerning Thursday's road blockade, demonstrations, and vandalism at four garment factories. Police stated that 1,100 unidentified individuals are named as accused in these cases, filed by managers from Triple Apparels Limited, MHC Apparel Private Limited, and Yasmin Textile Mills Limited. Two individuals have been arrested. The case statements allege that a group incited workers before carrying out vandalism.

Liza Begum, 35, worked as a sewing operator at Color and Company Limited. Colleagues claim she was forced to work despite feeling unwell and was denied leave. She reportedly became critically ill around 3:00 AM on Thursday and was taken to a hospital, where she was declared dead at approximately 5:00 AM. However, Sreepur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Shafiqul Islam indicated that preliminary findings suggest her death was due to complications related to high blood pressure. Attempts to reach the owner of Color and Company Limited for comment were unsuccessful.