Bangladesh

A world food crisis; empty rice bowls and fat rats

Ret Marut — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:19:20 +0000

In the Chittagong hill tracts of rural south-eastern Bangladesh the bamboo is in bloom - and the local poor are hungry and facing famine. Bamboo blooms and seeds itself roughly once every 50 years; the rats love the seeds, and their high protein content causes them to breed four times faster than normal.

Bangladesh; life's a gas! $100 a month employee grabs 'bonus' of $145 million

Ret Marut — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:19:19 +0000

The head of the state-owned Titas Gas Distribution Company has estimated that 80% of his employees (including, as he was obliged to admit, himself) are corrupt - investigators are trying to trace just how many millions have been siphoned off. It is claimed that "almost everyone in the company is a millionaire".

Bangladeshi garment worker murdered by bosses - and other developments

Ret Marut — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:07:27 +0000

Khokon and Malek were apparently almost the last of the workforce on the premises at 8pm, as they were washing themselves before leaving. Five officials appeared and accused them of loitering with intent to rob the company. They then beat the workers severely:

Bangladeshi garment workers keep up the pressure - more clashes

Ret Marut — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:27:59 +0000

Trouble in the garment industry has continued in Dhaka(see earlier report); yesterday (Tues) several thousand workers again fought cops in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ).

Bangladeshi garment workers out again and escalating

Ret Marut — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:26:51 +0000

Bangladeshi garment workers return to work

Ret Marut — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:54:04 +0000

Worked to death - Bangladeshi garment workers take to the streets after workmate dies

Ret Marut — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:22:05 +0000

The action began when factory bosses locked out workers from SQ Sweaters Ltd in the Sheorapara area of the city; the lockout was in response to protests on the previous two nights when workers allegedly refused to work, seized management officials and held them hostage in the factory.

Bangladesh - aftermath of a cyclone

Ret Marut — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:32:22 +0000

For example; in Barguna on Sunday hundreds marched from a remote outlying village to demand food and clothing. Demonstrators were roughly handled by police and a delegation of twelve villagers were arrested and charged with "creating a chaos by gathering villagers".

Garment workers struggles escalate again in Bangladesh

Ret Marut — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:46:28 +0000

The trouble began on Saturday morning at the Nasa Group factory. Supposedly one of the more 'responsible' employers - Nasa supply Primark in the UK and Wal-Mart in the USA amongst others - Nasa workers had been on strike for 2 days demanding payent of wage arrears, bonuses and extra holiday allowances.

Jute workers attack union leaders in Bangladesh amid wider unrest

Ret Marut — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:10:01 +0000

Jute unrest

Bangladesh: 100 hurt as garment workers clash with police

Ed — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:55:03 +0000

The fighting broke out as police charged baton on the garment workers fuming over unconfirmed reports that one of them was killed Thursday over the theft of a cellphone set.

Student revolt: riots across Bangladesh

Ret Marut — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:03:27 +0000

Despite apologies for the assault from the government, their withdrawal of troops from Dhaka campus and the promise of an official enquiry, unrest has spread and become a more general protest against the caretaker government and its long-running State of Emergency.

Water, energy and crisis in Bangladesh

Ret Marut — Mon, 07 May 2007 20:16:07 +0000

Quote:

The administration of most essential public utilities specially water and electricity is in serious jeopardy in the capital [Dhaka], causing untold suffering to the city dwellers.
The erratic power supply leads to disruption to smooth water supply to the city dwellers who are reeling from power and water crisis during the ongoing dry season.

Bangladesh: Strikes, clashes and party leaders to be exiled?

Ret Marut — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 21:38:00 +0000

The lockout occurred in the south-west of the country on Thursday 20 April, following a week of strikes and demonstrations demanding payment of wage arrears and holiday allowances.

On Bangladesh today and tomorrow

Ret Marut — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 10:55:12 +0000

Much of last year was spent in conflict between the two main parties, the Bangladesh National Party (NBP) and the Awami League (AL), as they squabbled over the details of rules and procedures for the General Election. In an apparent bid to end the stalemate, and the increasing social instability it brought, a caretaker government was put in place in January 2007.

Bangladesh: 'State of Emergency' powers extended and tightened - strikes & demonstrations banned, media gagged

Ret Marut — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 03:44:22 +0000

New powers ban various activities, including street protests, rallies and strikes, and impose heavy restrictions on all media. Penalties for breaking the rules are between 2 and 5 years of 'rigourous imprisonment' with offenders being dealt with by special 'speedy trial tribunals'.

Bangladeshi newspapers report;

On the present situation in Bangladesh - "state of emergency" declared.

Ret Marut — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:20:52 +0000

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

Steven. — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 11:26:00 +0000

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

Steven. — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:21:41 +0000

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!

Ret Marut — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 02:02:19 +0000

[Picture; rioters attack police van.]