OUR CORRESPONDENT, Gazipur

Fresh tensions erupted in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila yesterday as garment workers resumed protests over a colleague’s death, demanding trial of the accused and compensation for the victim’s family.

Workers blocked a regional road, alleging that Liza Begum died early on Thursday after being denied leave despite falling ill.

Around 9:00am yesterday, a prayer gathering was organised for Liza at Color and Company Limited in Tepirbari. Several hundred workers from Blue Planet Knit Wear Limited, another factory under the same company group, then gathered there and began protesting.

Sreepur Police Station Inspector (Operations) Sanjoy Saha said around 400 to 500 workers took part. Industrial police later dispersed them.

Meanwhile, three cases were filed over Thursday’s road blockade, demonstrations and vandalism at four garment factories following Liza’s death.

Police said 1,100 unidentified people were named as accused in the cases filed by officials of Triple Apparels Limited, MHC Apparel Private Limited, and Yasmin Textile Mills Limited. Two people have already been arrested.

According to the case statements, a group allegedly incited workers before vandalising four factories in Mawna Chowrasta.

Liza, 35, was a sewing operator at Color and Company Limited. Her colleagues alleged that she was denied leave and forced to work despite feeling unwell.

She reportedly fell critically ill around 3:00am on Thursday and was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead at about 5:00am.

However, Sreepur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Shafiqul Islam said preliminary findings suggested that she died from complications related to high blood pressure.

Attempts to contact the owner of Color and Company Limited, Abdus Salam, for comment were unsuccessful.