Abul Kalam, 50, who worked at the spinning section of the state-owned mills, suddenly fell sick as he was suffering from pangs of hunger, and died at around 11:30pm, said his wife Mamtaz Begum.

The seven-member family of Kalam has been reeling under abject poverty for the last one year because of non-payment of his wages. He was also under pressure to pay back the money he borrowed from several CBA leaders of the mills, Mamtaz Begum said.

Abul Kalam was buried at Goalkhali graveyard after a namaz-e-janaza yesterday.

The mill authorities gave Tk 5,000 to his wife yesterday afternoon and assured her of paying the wage arrears soon.

When contacted, General Manager of Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills Boni Israil Shelley said Abul Kalam died due to a cardiac arrest. Kalam might have been suffering from diseases due to poverty that forced him to remain half fed or starve, he added.

Convener of the Khulna regional unit of Patkal Sangram Parishad (PSP) Sarder Motaharuddin said Kalam died from starvation.