Bangladesh is the second leading exporter of apparel in the
world. Garment exports drive the country’s economy. Garment factories make
apparel for big American name brand companies such as Gap, Tommy Hilfiger and
Ralph Lauren. Sense Bangladesh’s economy
depends on these exports there is no tolerance for anything that is conflicting
to it. In apparel factories, unions are almost
nonexistent because workers fear harassment from government officials.
A small but passionate 5’ 4” man named Aminul Islam was
considered a conflict. Amongst the huge garment factories in Ashulia,
Bangladesh was Mr. Islam’s little office where workers would go to him with the
problems they were facing at work. His job as a labor organizer was devoted to
fighting for labor rights. Mr. Islam was not popular to government officials
because he was considered a threat to the economy. The police regularly harassed
him, tapped his phone calls, threatened to kill his family and was beat once by
domestic intelligence. On April 4th Mr. Islam disappeared. His family found him
days later to discover that he had bled to death from being tortured. His
murder attracted a lot of outside attention which inspired a global campaign,
with protests from international labor groups and American diplomats.
Mr. Islam was targeted by the government with every action
he made. In 2010 monthly wages were $21. To fight to raise wages, Mr.Islam
organized a group of workers to join a labor group. When intelligence officials
found out about it he was warned “to refrain from” discussing labor rights or
else the agency would take “strong action” against them. Last March, officers
took him away to question him about rumors that he was planning to organize
10,000 workers to participate in a protest March 12th. Mr. Islam denied the
rumors and he was allowed to leave but ordered him to return the day of the
rally. After the rally, workers sought Mr. Islam with their concerns such as
wages and sexual harassment of female workers. The following month, Mr.Islam
began communicating with a high-ranking government security official and
negotiated a breakthrough on April 4th.
The news circulated in Mr. Islam’s home village and when
someone read the news they ran to the home of the Islam family. Supporters believe
that a major reason for the murder and why Mr.Islam was considered such a
threat was because of the concern about the national image of Bangladesh.
Opinion:
This article highlights the government corruption and the complete cut off of human rights that exist. A man who spent 40 days on a religious journey encouraging people to be better Muslims is now dead by officials from his own country. He devoted his life to helping his people by listening to their problems and taking action to change their situation. It’s terrible that a person who wants to help people better themselves is considered a “threat to the country.” However, from a macro-sociological perspective it appears to me that Bangladesh being a developing country has to depend on the benefits of globalization and the export economy that drives their nation. Therefore that is why Mr. Islam was considered a threat because without the big American apparel factories Bangladesh would have a very weak economy. The government corruption is out of hand. I would like to take a moment to point out police officers were the ones harassing Mr. Islam. When people can’t trust a police officer that’s when you know the world is a messed up place. Apparel factories being what drives the country mean that the majority of the working population works for these factories in terrible conditions with no rights at all. Workers have the human right to speak up when they are feeling abused and taken advantage of. I am happy that the article read that European and American diplomats are taking action by going to congress to do something about this situation. Although, I do have doubts that it will change anything because America depends on globalization and cheap labor as much as Bangladesh depends on apparel factories.
This article highlights the government corruption and the complete cut off of human rights that exist. A man who spent 40 days on a religious journey encouraging people to be better Muslims is now dead by officials from his own country. He devoted his life to helping his people by listening to their problems and taking action to change their situation. It’s terrible that a person who wants to help people better themselves is considered a “threat to the country.” However, from a macro-sociological perspective it appears to me that Bangladesh being a developing country has to depend on the benefits of globalization and the export economy that drives their nation. Therefore that is why Mr. Islam was considered a threat because without the big American apparel factories Bangladesh would have a very weak economy. The government corruption is out of hand. I would like to take a moment to point out police officers were the ones harassing Mr. Islam. When people can’t trust a police officer that’s when you know the world is a messed up place. Apparel factories being what drives the country mean that the majority of the working population works for these factories in terrible conditions with no rights at all. Workers have the human right to speak up when they are feeling abused and taken advantage of. I am happy that the article read that European and American diplomats are taking action by going to congress to do something about this situation. Although, I do have doubts that it will change anything because America depends on globalization and cheap labor as much as Bangladesh depends on apparel factories.
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