Several thousand garment workers from around 20 factories staged a demonstration after authorities closed the factory of SQ Sweaters Ltd in Mirpur following a two-day strike by factory workers who were protesting the death of one of their co-workers.

Workers of SQ Sweaters alleged that authorities forced a worker to work a night shift on December 30, 2007, although she was ill. As her condition deteriorated, she was taken home at around 3:00am and she died an hour later.

The factory manager subsequently announced that the factory would be closing.

As workers from other factories started joining the demonstrators in large numbers, other factories were forced to shut down. The workers planned to continue their demonstration until compensation to the deceased worker’s family are met.

Demonstrators included Bangladesh Garments Workers Mukti Andolon, Textile Garments Workers Federation, Garments Workers Unity Forum, Biplobi Nari Sanghati, Ganosanghati Andolan and Bangladesh Jatiya Mahila Ainjibi Samity.