On June 2, 2025, a garment worker named Zakir Hossain died by suicide after jumping from the eighth floor of the Jinnat Knitwear Ltd. factory, owned by DBL Group, in the Nayanpur Notun Bazar area of Sreepur, Gazipur. According to his co-workers, Zakir was publicly humiliated by factory authorities, forced to perform sit-ups while holding his ears in front of colleagues, after returning from a one-day medical leave. They believe this act of public shaming directly led to his death.
While factory officials claim Zakir’s suicide was due to “family issues,” this narrative has been met with deep skepticism, especially given the factory’s long history of worker mistreatment and abuse. When fellow workers protested Zakir’s death, demanding justice and accountability, police responded with violent force, firing tear gas, beating workers with batons, and reportedly even using live ammunition. At least 50 workers were injured during the crackdown.
Zakir Hossain’s death is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of exploitation, dehumanization, and impunity in Bangladesh’s garment sector. His death demands a full, transparent, and independent investigation. The workers deserve answers. The industry must be held accountable.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives stands in solidarity with the protesting workers and joins their call for justice and for safer, more dignified working conditions.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 