BANGLADESH:

FIGHTING FOR FUTURE Ovinu Kibria Islam

Communist Party of Bangladesh

Where we are

How big we actually are

Total area of Bangladesh –

147,570 square kilometer

Total area of Germany-

357,168 square kilometer

Germany is about 2.5 times

larger than Bangladesh.

How many peoples live in Bangladesh

Population of Bangladesh – 156,901,000

Population of Germany – 80,716,000

• Bangladesh has 2 times more

people than Germany

• It's the 8th largest country in the

world in terms of population.

• In Bangladesh approximately 1,033.5

people living in a square km, where

as in Germany only 226 people living

in a square km.

• Four thousands years of amazing

history and culture.

• Dravidian-speaking tribe settled in

the area around the year 1000 BC

• European traders arrived late 15th

century.

• The Portuguese came first, followed by

the Dutch, French and then the

British.

• On 23 June 1757, the English East

India Company defeated Siraj-ud-

Daula, the Nawab of Bengal, in the

Battle of Plassey.

• The British thus became masters of

east India (Bengal, Bihar, Orissa) – a

prosperous region with a flourishing

agriculture, industry and trade.

Short History

• The Industrial Revolution happened in

Britain during 1775–1850 , 20 years

after the British conquest of east India.

• Before the Industrial Revolution, India

was the world's number one textile

manufacturer and exporter.

• British collected revenue from this

region and sending it to Britain.

• Seized raw cotton from the cotton

farmers and sent it to Britain.

• Brought the manufactured textiles into

India – without any duties or tariffs –

and sold them here.

• Thus India provided all the three

ingredients of Britain's Industrial

Revolution: capital, raw materials

and market.

• Subsequently, Britain conquered the

whole of India– which helped to

accelerate its Industrial Revolution.

1947- PARTITION OF INDIA

• East Pakistan were treated as a colony by the West rulers.

• 1948..West Pakistan declared that 'Urdu and only Urdu' would be

the national language of all Pakistan. This was a language that

virtually no one in East Pakistan spoke.

Pakistan Period

• After Partition, two regions of Pakistan became known as West

Pakistan and East Pakistan (Bengal).

• Besides sharing the religion, the two areas had little in common.

• They were separated by nearly 1,600 km of Indian land, spoke

different languages (Urdu in the West, Bangla in the East) and had

different cultural histories.

Bangla language

Around 300 millions people speak

in Bangla

Sixth most widely spoken

language

Official language of Bangladesh,

few province of India & Sierra Leon

Bengali Language Movement 21st February, 1952

Probably, we are the only nation

in the world, who fought to

protect their mother language.

Several Peoples Killed by

Military

Official webpage of UNESCO about the

International Mother Language Day

• 1970 national

election -political

party that

supported the

Autonomous

Dominion status

of East Pakistan

won the majority.

• 1969- A mass

uprising was

held against

the Military

Dictator

Aiyub Khan.

He was forced

to resign.

• The President of

Pakistan refused to let

that party form the

government of Pakistan.

• Protest quickly followed

and the independent

State of Bangladesh

became the popular

demand. Pakistan, in

turn, sent troops to

suppress the uprising.

• On the 26th of March 1971 , the 9

month of war for Independence began.

• The Pakistan Army

began their genocide by

attacking the innocent Bengali’s of

Dhaka city.

• During the nine month struggle which

followed an estimated 3 million

Bengalis died and 10 million refugees

fled into India.

• USA and China supported Pakistan

• Soviet Union ,India and millions of people around the

world supported us

• USA sent 7th Fleet to destroy our hope

• Communist USSR sent Submarines to neutralize that

threat.

• On December 16, 1971, the Pakistan army surrendered.

16 December 1971- Victory Day

• Working class people actively

participated and gave away their lives

in our struggle of independence.

• But their dreams never came to the

reality.

• After the independence, new

constitution was written in which

hopes of masses were reflected.

• 4 basic principle-Democracy,

Socialism, Secularism, Nationalism

• Rulers betrayed with the hope of the

masses and constitution

• Though some progressive steps were

taken just after the liberation war.

• 1975- Father of the nation Sheikh

Mujib war assassinated with his

family members, Military took power.

BETRAYAL

WITH THE

HOPE

GOING BACKWARD…

• Military dictators came into power and illegally made amendment and erased Socialism and Secularism from the constitution.

• Islam declared as State religion

• Islamic Extremists and Collaborators of Pakistani Army who were involved in genocide, came back to country and start politics.

• War criminals went free.

• A lot of Madrasa’s were formed.

• 1990- mass uprising against the military rulers.

Youth Movement –

Fighting for

Democracy

• Youth of Bangladesh

always fought for

Democracy

• 1990 – student & youth

leaders led the mass

uprising

• Dictator Ershad forced to

resign and national

elections were held

• Again the masses were

betrayed

• Democratic Bourgeoisie

parties followed the

economic policy of the

dictators

1990- Mass Uprising

• Bourgeoisie parties

fighting each other

for power

• Military backed

Caretaker

government was

formed

• Students revolted

again

• Several student

were arrested and

injured during

clashes

• Government had to

give national

elections

2007- Fight for Democracy

• Millions of young people of Bangladesh

came into streets demanding the capital

punishment of the collaborators of

Pakistan army who were involved in

Genocide in 1971

• They demanded the banning of extremist

Islamist parties.

• They also demanded a Secular

Bangladesh and fulfillment of the spirit

of liberation war

• They were in the streets for 45 days

continuously.

Shahbag Movement 2013

● Bangladesh now 2nd largest

apparel producer after China

● Export US $17billion in 2011

● 5,000 factories

● 3 million workers

● 80% young women

● Now the industry is the highest

export earner in the country.

● A very large number of readymade

garment firms, at least 70%, are

subcontractors dependent on foreign

buyers.

GARMENTS SECTOR OF

BANGLADESH

• Successive military regimes

pursued policies of

denationalization and export-

oriented industrialization.

• The emergence of the garment

industry in the early 1980s.

• United States and Europe drove

European, American, and East

Asian garment capital to new sites

of production that could offer low

wages.

• The first joint venture readymade

garment factory in Bangladesh

opened in 1979.

Emergence of

Garments Sector

GLOBAL CAPITAL

A DESTRUCTIVE BUSINESS MODEL

● Brands and retailers want their

products cheap & fast: and push

local contractors on price and lead times

● To meet these demands factory

management ignore workers' rights

and safety standards to cut costs and

speed production

● (Local) government looks the other

way: they need the business

● Audit systems have no effect: no

worker involvement and no follow up

● Result: poverty wages, long hours,

oppressive conditions, dangerous

workplaces

● A problem of the global capital system,

not just Bangladesh

• There are only 75,140 sewing

operators left in the U.S., in

comparison with Bangladesh's 3.5

million garment jobs.

• U.S. garment wages range from $8.25

(573.38 taka) to $14 (973 taka) per

hour, based on production. This does

not include healthcare, vacation,

holidays and other benefits.

• In the United Kingdom, garment

workers earn a minimum wage of

$7.58 (526.81 taka) to $9.11 (633.15

taka) per hour, depending on the

worker's age and experience. Again,

this does not include healthcare and

other benefits.

Country Hourly Wage Malaysia- 73 cents Nicaragua- 65 cents Bahrain- 57 cents Thailand- 56 cents India 55 – 68 cents Mauritius 55 – 65 cents Vietnam 52 cents Egypt 50 – 87 cents Mexico 50 – 53 cents Sri Lanka - 46 cents Pakistan - 37 cents Indonesia -35 cents Cambodia -24 cents Bangladesh- 21 cents

How Cheap the labor

in Bangladesh

Consequence of Greed

● Poverty wages: minimum wage

$37/month

● Grinding hours: 12-16 hours 6

days a week

● Harassment and intimidation as

management strategy to speed up

production

● Unionists are fired – or worse

● Most dangerous place in the

world to be an garment worker

Consequence of Greed

THOUSANDS OF DEATH TRAPS

● Poorly constructed buildings with weak

foundations; illegally added

after original construction [often without

permission]

● Most factories lack proper fire exists:

– Open stairwells, which act as chimneys

rather than escape routes

– No external fire escapes

● Missing safety systems

– No emergency lighting

– Missing fire extinguishers

● No worker role in safety management,

no unions, no or inadequate

safety training

● Managers restrict access: lock doors to

control workers; delay exit to

avoid loss of production, hoping alarms

are false

DECADE OF

DISASTER:

BANGLADESH

ACCIDENTS 2005-2013

June 27 2013 12

2005 SPECTRUM COLLAPSE

64 KILLED – 80 INJURED

Inditex, Carrefour, Scapino, Karstad,

others

June 27 2013 13

2006 KTS TEXTILE FIRE

61 KILLED – 100 INJURED

Mermain int, ATT, Vida, Leslee Scott,

others

Image: CCC

June 27 2013 15

2006 IMAM TRANSFORMER

EXPLOSION

57 INJURED IN STAMPEDE

K-mart, Folsom, others

Image: Google Maps

June 27 2013 17

2010 GARIB & GARIB FIRE

21 DEAD – 50 INJURED

H&M, Otto, El Corte Ingles, Terranova,

others

Image: CCC

June 27 2013 18

2010 THAT'S IT/HAMEEM FIRE

29 DEAD – 11 INJURED

Gap, PvH, VFC, Target, JC Penney,

A&F, others

Image:

Reuters/Andrew Biraj

June 27 2013 20

2012 TAZREEN FIRE

112 KILLED – 120 INJURED

C&A, Kik, Walmart, Disney, Sears,

Kmart, others

Image: CCC

June 27 2013 22

2013 RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE

1230+ KILLED – 2500+ INJURED

Benetton, BonMarche, Mango, Primark,

others

Image: Reuters

June 27 2013 23

2013 TUNG HAI FIRE

8 KILLED

Several European brands

Image: Reuters

What is the cost of a Shirt

in Primark or H & M?

Open cost …20-30 euro

Underground (hidden) Cost-

Lives of workers in third world

countries

Unemployment in Western

countries…

Movement of the Garments Workers

• May 2006, different unregistered

radical labor groups organized

among garment factory workers in

Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• The labor front of the CPB

organized workers around 11

demands .

• In Savar & Gazipur, workers

organized to demand their unpaid

wages. Police shot dead one of

their ranks.

• The mass militancy that followed

was spontaneous and massive.

• It spread across Dhaka, included

extensive property damage such

as damage to two million dollars

worth of clothing and sixteen

factories.

Garments Workers’

Revolt 2006

• secured a significant increase in the

minimum wage

• first tripartite agreement in the

industry's history.

• This victory for workers was partially

undermined by unions that work

collaboratively with the employers'

association.

• They ended the strike by agreeing to a

new minimum wage of 1662 taka (~25

US dollars).

• This was the first increase since 1994

but significantly less than the 3000

taka (~45 US dollars) that the workers

demanded.

• The unregistered radical unions that

initiated the protests refused to sign

the resulting agreement.

Success of the

Movement

• A minimum wage board was formed

by the government.

• Workers demanded min wage of

5000 taka/ month (95 euro)

• On July 30,2010,workers in Tejgaon

industrial area came out into the

streets in peaceful demonstrations.

• Police attacked, brutally assaulted

and dispersed the demonstrators.

• Movement spread and continued.

• More than 4000 workers were

arrested. False case against more

than 30,000 workers

• Again the demands were partially

fulfilled and minimum wage

increased from 1662 to 3000 taka.

Garments Workers’

Revolt 2010

• On July 28, 1,200 workers of 5

factories of Tuba Group began

hunger strike demanding arrear

wages for 3 months, overtime bills

and festival bonus.

• Several left organizations

supported the movement

• The workers rejected BGMEA’s

offer to pay the arrear wages of

two months.

• 7 August, Workers from the

nearby factories come into the

streets supporting Tuba Workers.

• Policemen attacked to disperse

them and evicted Tuba Group

workers from the factory.

• The Government of Bangladesh

supported the capitalist garments

owners and ordered the law

enforcers to attack the workers.

Latest movement-

TUBA Garments 2014

Movement against Global Capitalism

Movement for Nature

• Multinational

Companies

are looking for

our natural

resources

• Gas Fields,

Coal fields,

Maritime

Blocks

Imperialism in a new form- Multinational Companies

• Unfair

Agreement

• Environment

destruction

• A devastating gas explosion

occurred on 14 June 1997

• Oil and gas company Occidental

was drilling at Magurchara.

• Blow up turned into inferno,

towering 300 feet high and spread

over surrounding rainforest,

farmlands and villages.

• Destroyed about 700 acres of

reserved forest and 10 tea

gardens.

• Explosion caused serious damage

to the environment, ecology and

wildlife, permanently damage vast

areas around.

• It destroyed estimated 6.9 billion

cubic metres of gas.

• Explosion caused estimated Tk 90

billion (1 billion euro) loss to the

Bangladesh.

Magurchara

Explosion

Still no compensation

26 August - Phulbari day

• In 2006 there had a mass upsurge

against open pit coal mine in

Phulbari, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.

• Asia Energy was forced to left the

country and abandoned the

project.

• Three people were killed and and

several hundred were injured as

Bangladesh Rifle and police fired

on people.

• Bangladesh Government is going

ahead to set up a coal fired power

plant very close vicinity of the

Sundarban, the world’s largest

mangrove forest.

• project area lies only 10 KM away

from the forest.

• This is an India-Bangladesh joint

venture.

• Rampal power plant will emit

huge carbon, toxic gases, smoke

and ash

• Devastating environmental impact

and may destroy the forest.

• Movement is going on, a long

march was held from Dhaka to

Sundarban by National Oil, Gas,

natural resource protect

committee.

SAVE SUNDARBAN