The garments industry riots in Bangladesh

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2006/05/26/the-garments-industry-riots-in-bangladesh/

Friday, May 26th, 2006 @ 07:40 UTC
by Rezwan

The readymade Garments Industry is the key export earning sector for Bangladesh, which brings to this developing country $6 billion yearly revenue. The industry has over 4,000 export oriented factories and thousands more small scale sub-contractors which employ nearly three million workers most of whom are women (80%).

All hell broke loose last weekend as a riot broke out in and around the capital Dhaka city when a garments worker was shot in Savar, an industrial zone 30km away from Dhaka as police was trying to control the angry protesters. The death sparked more violence as thousands of garments workers took to the streets in Savar, creating chaos and huge traffic deadlocks around the capital. A section of 800-1000 violent protesters with sticks lead by motorcycle processions resorted to widespread damage of vehicles, attacked about 300 garments factories, and torched many of them. Widespread lootings were also reported and finally extra security forces were deployed to prevent this from going further.

From the Washington post: “One thing I can say that we love our machines because they feed us and protect us from starvation. How can one with a sane heart destroy them?” - female worker Masuda Begum.

The Bangladeshi bloggers had different opinions on this issue. Change Bangladesh Blog wonders are Bangladeshis stupid enough to kill the duck laying golden egg?

In Suchinta blog there is one video clip from the ATN News on the attack on Garments Industries, which provides visuals of the rioting and the views of the owners and the government. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the owner’s association claimed “This is part of a conspiracy to ruin the nation's economy.” They and the government are pointing to political manipulation citing that almost all protesters were men while the majority of the workers in the industry are women.

Shafiur shades a light that there is no one union, one industry scenario here. The workers unions fall in line behind party politics and no doubt they can easily be exploited by the confrontational political parties. Like some parties were dumb enough to blame neighboring India behind this. All these beating around the bush neglect the prime issue, the exploitation of the workers. He also blames the Garments owners for demanding the use of force to deal with the issue.

FULL story at link.