The Bangladeshi government is cracking down on labour rights advocates, who need our help now. Read more...

In mid September, Bangladeshi garment workers in Dhaka organised a 10,000 strong demonstration, in open defiance of the emergency laws, demanding higher wages and improved conditions of work. Garments are Bangladesh’s biggest single export earner, accounting for 75% of total export earnings last year. The company directly involved, the Nassa Group, produces for cheap clothing outlets like Wal-Mart in the US and Primark in the UK. Read more...

Over the last few months Bangladesh has experienced serious political unrest, with a nationwide general strike culminating in a huge street blockade of the capital Dhakar. This was organised by the coalition led by the main opposition party, the Awami League (AL). The aim was to postpone the upcoming elections, create a new voter list and install a new electoral commission. These mass mobilisations were met not only with violent police repression but also by a counter-mobilisation by its main rival the Bangladeshi national Party (BNP) which had been in power from 2001 until last year before it gave way, as the constitution demanded, to an interim government tasked with preparing the elections. Read more...

On 3 May, in Savar, Bangladesh, garment workers and their supporters staged a peaceful protest against a sudden wage cut. The management of Ring Shine called in police, who attacked the 1500 strong gathering. Read more...