Massive protests by students and their supporters in Bangladesh this July and August led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the creation of an interim government headed by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, raising hopes of an end to repression and the creation of new opportunities for students and workers.
The murder of at least 300 students and other protesters and the detention of thousands were only the most recent instances of government repression against human and labour rights activists, garment workers and union leaders.
In November 2023, thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers staged massive protests after the government announced the adoption of a minimum wage that would not begin to meet their basic needs. The government responded with a brutal crackdown in which at least four workers were killed and over 100 arrested. Criminal charges were also filed against union leaders and over 2,500 unnamed workers.
The latest crisis has caused further chaos for the garment industry in Bangladesh, among the world’s top three garment-producing countries. A government-imposed internet blackout and curfew, as well as factory shutdowns, meant that workers struggling to get by were not being paid full wages.
International labour rights organizations and multi-stakeholder initiatives are calling on brands that source from Bangladesh to extend order deadlines, drop late order penalties, and ensure long-term responsible sourcing practices. Brands should also ensure that their supplier factories pay workers their full wages for July and subsequent months and withdraw all charges against workers for participating in the wage protests last November.
MSN is working with our Bangladeshi and international labour partners in calling for an end to repression against peaceful protesters and justice for students and workers.
For more information:
- Bangladesh Garment Workers: Hopeful, Cautious (Solidarity Center)
- Bangladesh: how the ‘gen Z revolution’ forced the prime minister to flee (video, The Guardian)
- Joint statement for responsible business conduct in Bangladesh (multi-stakeholder initiatives)
- Solidarity with the peoples’ movement in Bangladesh (CCC)
- Bangladesh: Workers mobilize for 23,000 Taka minimum wage (MSN)