Neil Kearney, general secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation, who came to Dhaka on Tuesday on a four-day visit, passed away yesterday.
The union leader had been staying at Sonargaon Hotel. He died on the way to Square Hospitals in the morning.
Kearney, 59, is survived by his wife and two daughters, acting President of BGMEA Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin told reporters at a press briefing.
Kearney came here to visit a garment factory of Windy Group at Ashulia. "Last year the BBC aired a report on Windy Group about compliances and Kearney came here to verify it, as the group has already improved a lot," Mohiuddin said.
At his death, Bangladesh has lost a tested friend as Kearney always spoke for this country in different international forums, the BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) leader said.
Kearney helped the country's apparel sector a lot during the final phase-out of Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) in 2005, he added.
The body of Kearney will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar from 3:00pm to 5:00pm today for all to pay their last respects to him.
In separate statements, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, also the president of the Garments Tailors Workers' League, Md Israfil Alam, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on labour ministry, Roy Romesh Chandra and Nurul Islam, president and general secretary of Sammilita Garments Darji Sramik Federation, and Nazrul Islam Khan and Md Jafrul Hasan, president and general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, expressed deep shock at the death of Neil Kearney.
They said the world lost a revolutionary labour leader and organiser at his death. He played an important role at international level in protecting the rights of garments workers.
Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies and Bangladesh Snajukta Sramik Federation also condoled his sudden demise.