Garment worker dies after falling ill during protest over unpaid wages

A garment factory worker, who had joined a sit-in protest in front of the Sram Bhaban to demand unpaid wages, has died, according to hospital officials and demonstrators.

The deceased, 40-year-old Ram Prasad Singh Johnny, was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after he had fallen ill around 3pm on Sunday.

However, doctors confirmed his death after he had been brought to the hospital, said Md Faruk, an officer at the hospital’s police outpost.

“From what we know from the doctor, he suffered a stroke,” Faruk said.

Ram Prasad served as an assistant production manager at Style Craft Ltd, a garment factory in Gazipur.

His employer also owns another factory, Youngones (BD) Ltd, whose workers, alongside those from Style Craft, have been protesting for months over unpaid wages following mass layoffs in August 2023.

According to Shamsul Alam, a fellow protester, about 1,800 workers from the two factories have been demonstrating to demand overdue salaries.

Ram Prasad, he said, had been unwell since the morning but continued to participate in the protest.

“He suddenly collapsed after noon,” Alam said.

“We took him to a local hospital first and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital...”

Ram Prasad used to live in Mirpur’s Shewrapara with his family.

Asked whether the workers planned to take legal action over his death, Alam said they would discuss the matter before making a decision.