Bangladesh
On the present situation in Bangladesh - "state of emergency" declared.
The political climate in Bangladesh remains as violent and unstable as ever... but has electoral politics, for the moment, derailed workers' struggle? RM investigates.
After a year of intense nationwide class struggle in 2006, (see our previous reports here) for the last 3 months Bangladesh has been in a different kind of turmoil.
Bangladesh: Fifty garment workers beaten by hired thugs
Dozens of workers at a clothing factory were injured on Wednesday when over 200 outsiders, allegedly hired by the factory authorities, attacked the workers who were protesting against the bosses' beating of two of their leaders.
The Bangladesh Daily Star yesterday reported that the attackers, led by police informant and local hoodlum Mobarak, beat up the workers, mostly women, and also confined five workers to the office of an executive on the third floor of the seven-storey Padma Poly Cotton Knit Fabrics Ltd.
(Another) Paradise Lost - Strikes and riots in the Export Zones in Vietnam and Bangladesh, 2006
Information and analysis on the workers' movements and strike waves which have swept factories in Asia.
More strikes and riots in Bangladesh - garment workers take the offensive again!
Seven garment factories were severely damaged, while bosses claimed 100 other factories were vandalised; three shopping malls and 50 vehicles were also attacked on Tuesday (10th Oct) as thousands of striking garment workers fought pitched battles with the police and factory security forces in and around the capital, Dhaka. Over 100 people were injured in the clashes.
[Picture; rioters attack police van.]
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More energy riots - electrickery in Bangladesh
Two hundred people, including police, were injured in Bangladesh as more riots and demonstrations have erupted in protest against regular interruptions to electricity supplies.
The nineteen hours of violent clashes began yesterday evening (Wednesday 27th).
More clashes in Bangladesh - the issue of energy
Textile workers in Narsingdi, central Bangladesh, yesterday fought police in protests against irregular power supply to their factory workplaces.
They are not paid for time lost to interruptions. Over 1,000 fought with officers as they laid seige to the electicity company offices, setting fire to company vehicles, 2 transformers and a circuit breaker. 50 workers were hurt as cops baton charged, fired rubber bullets and tear gas. 10 cops were also injured by thrown missiles.
1919-1946: Gandhi and the national liberation of India
A critical examination of the 'saint' of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi, and his role in the 'liberation' of India.
Mahatma Gandhi is often cited by pacifists as the shining example of how non-violent civil disobedience works successfully. Unfortunately, these paeans of praise leave out a close study of Gandhi’s role in the Indian struggle for ‘independence’, and just as importantly, who were his class allies in that struggle.
Agitation in Bangladeshi jute mill areas continues
After Thursday's clashes, in which revised figures tell of 200 injured and one worker dead, the strike continues and tension remains high in Khulna.
Since Friday, millworkers and other local people have flown black flags from homes and workplaces as a sign of solidarity and mourning for their dead comrade. On Saturday the police withdrew from the area and most shops remained shut. Today, Monday, the strikers intend to march in their thousands from the Kalishpur industrial belt - this was the site of Thursday's clashes.
Striking jute-mill workers clash with cops in Bangladesh
On Wednesday 6th Sep 25,000 workers from 8 jute mills in the south-western city of Khulna began a 2 day strike.
"Oh dear me, the world is all divided
Them that works the hardest are the least provided"
('Jute Mill Song', by Mary Brooksbank, Scots millworker of Dundee, centre of the 20th century UK jute mill industry.)
