Tuba apparel worker died in Padma ferry disaster

A factory worker for Tuba Group, travelling to the capital for her dues, was killed with hundred others when their passenger launch ML Pinak-6 drowned in the Padma.

'Rita' from Faridpur’s Nagarkanda was not among the 110 who managed to escape the sinking vessel on Monday.

Her dead body found floating in Padma’s confluence at Chandpur on Wednesday was sent over to her family.

Rita migrated to her sister’s house in the capital three years ago and began working as a garment worker, her father Abdul Hye told bdnews24.com.

She joined Tuba Fashions two years ago, he said.

“She came back to celebrate Eid with us even though she didn’t get her pay or bonus. She made her way to Dhaka with the hopes of receiving her dues.”

Her co-workers from Tuba Group’s five factories have been demonstrating for three months worth of unpaid salary, overtime and bonuses.

They began a hunger strike from Jul 28 when authorities failed to pay.

Police on Thursday cracked down on the workers to evict them from their protest site, Tuba Group’s factory in Hossain Market in Badda where Rita once worked.

Rita was the youngest among her six siblings, said her father.

“Her face was unidentifiable when they found her. We knew it was her by the clothes she was wearing,” said her brother ‘Sumon’.

Another Pinak-6 passenger Jamal Mallik’s body was retrieved on Wednesday. He also hailed from Nagarkanda Upazila.

The sunken vessel was yet to be found on the fourth day of the rescue.

Altogether 123 passengers are still unaccounted-for, according to a list at the makeshift control room set up by the district administration at Munshiganj.