A readymade garments (RMG) worker has died without any treatment at his workplace as his employers didn’t grant him leave, alleged family.
The victim Tarikul Islam, 30, a worker at Design Tex Sweater manufacturing company at Sripur upazila in Gazipur, took his last breath around 3.30am Saturday.
Victim’s wife Sumona Akter said, “My husband died because of the negligence of the factory authorities. Now, there is no one to look after my family as he was the only breadwinner in the family.”
Victim’s coworker Jalal Uddin said, Tarikul suddenly fell ill while at work and asked the Production Manager’s to allow him to leave around 11:30pm.
Not only he was denied to leave, he was forced to work while he was in need of medical attention, Jalal said.
Around 3:00am Tarikul collapsed on the flood and died while on the way to hospital.
Another worker in the factory Shefali Begum said, the factory authorities make them work longer hours.
Sometimes until dawn, she said, adding that it exceeds the limit of 10 working hours per day including two hours overtime according to labour law.
She also said that it’s common there not to grant leaves even in emergencies.
When journalists went to the factory to talk with the management, they were told by the security guards that they will not talk to media.