Workers from various garment factories surrounding Panorama Apparels Limited in Gazipur have blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway at Chandna Chowrasta to Bypass in protest over the death of a female garment worker.
The blockade began on Monday at around 8:15am.
The deceased worker, Afsana Akter, 22, was the daughter of Afsar Ali from Pachrukhi village in Nandail Upazila, Mymensingh. She was employed as a junior operator at Panorama Apparels Limited. Her husband's name is Hridoy.
Meanwhile, various accounts regarding the death of the female garment worker are circulating. The protesting workers claim that Afsana Akter had gone to the rooftop to perform her midday prayers, where she became unconscious and died on the spot.
They allege that the factory authorities, unable to discreetly remove the body to avoid chaos, threw it from the rooftop and are now spreading the narrative that she died by suicide. However, the actual cause of death remains uncertain. Police have said that the deceased worker’s husband used to physically abuse her on multiple occasions.
Angry workers have set fire to several motorcycles, bicycles, and private cars in front of Panorama Apparels Limited.
Due to around 300 to 400 workers blocking the highway at the Bypass intersection, bus drivers, passengers, and commuters are facing severe difficulties, with many being forced to walk to their destinations.
The factory authorities have declared the closure of all garment factories from Chandna in Joydebpur to Bhogra Bypass.
Kaiser Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Basan Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), said that they received reports of a female garment worker’s death at Panorama Apparels Limited on Sunday evening.
The body was then sent to the morgue at Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. The preliminary examination revealed multiple injury marks on different parts of the deceased’s body.
Meanwhile, Panorama Apparels Ltd said in a statement: "We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic death of one of our employees on March 2. Our
heartfelt condolences go out to her family and loved ones during this tough time. In this difficult situation, we firmly stand by her family and are ready to provide any necessary support. We would also like to assure our full cooperation to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident and are prepared to assist the law enforcement authorities wherever required.
"However, it is very unfortunate for us that there are some misleading claims suggesting that her sick leave was denied, which is entirely false and fabricated. This tragic incident is in no way related to her work. The employee did not request any leave from the authorities. As a responsible company, Panorama Apparels Ltd always prioritizes the well-being of its employees. We strictly follow structured policies and standards, including those related to leave management. We respect the country’s labour laws and strictly adhere to international labour standards.
"Police mentioned in their initial investigation that it was a case of suicide. It could have been caused by a family dispute. We urge everyone to refrain from spreading misleading information, especially when the matter is under legal investigation. False and misleading claims can cause additional emotional distress to the grieving family and colleagues in the current circumstances."
