Bangladesh Garment Workers Union Office and Activists Attacked

(Asian Women Workers Newsletter 15-1 January 1996)

  On the night of November 21, 1995, a gang of 25-30 thugs raided the Malibagh office and study center of the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers' Union (BIGU) and physically abused and terrorized the officers, lawyer, staff, and members of this newly organized union. Most of the victims were women. The assailants, who were well-dressed young men, were armed with pistols, rifles, and molotov cocktails.

  The gang beat BIGU officers and activists with gun butts and chairs, encircled BIGU's lawyer, Fawzia Karim Feroze, with guns, ripped off her sari and attempted to set her on fire, threatened to shoot any worker who spoke, fired shots wildly into the air, destroyed files, broke windows, and knocked over file cabinets and other furniture. The thugs also poured petrol throughout the lawyer's office. Fortunately, the lit match landed in another room and only furniture was set alight, otherwise the building may have gone up in flame. Among those who were physically attacked were BIGU's lawyer, president, vice president, organizing secretary, press secretary, two staff, and at least one member.

  During the attack over 120 workers were present for legal advice and labour law classes, and scores others were participating in Bangla and English literacy programs. The office also houses BIGU's day school for child workers and its health clinic.

  Despite the damage and suffering caused by the attack, leaders of the union were not bullied into submission. In fact, the office reopened the next morning. This was not the first attack on BIGU office, officers, members, and staff, but it was the most vicious so far. Union officials had contacted authorities about this savage episode to request a full investigation and protection against a recurrence.

  BIGU was formed on December 16, 1994. It is currently involved in a number of court cases involving garment companies belonging to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

  From what the assailants themselves said, the purpose of their attack was to stop the work of the union. The garment industry is the country's most vigorous sector, yet the workers are shut out from its success. Abuse of workers' rights is rampant: the legal mininum wages are rarely if ever paid; forced overtime is commonplace but is compensated at below the legal rate; the legal weekly day off is a luxury few enjoy; and some workers go for months on end without receiving any salary. When workers speak up for their rights, either directly by requesting their legal due, by filing grievances and court cases through BIGU, or by organizing a union, they are routinely fired, harassed, threatened, and even blacklisted and beaten.

  Since the garment industry started the government has consciously waived the labour laws in order to give the industry a chance to grow. During these years the workers paid the price for the in dustry's privilege of developing. Now that the industry is rich and strong, it is time to reward the workers for their contribution and require the garment owners to honor the laws.

  The attack is further evidence of the need to bring the garment industry's lawlessness under con trol. The industry's resistance to BIGU violates the law of Bang ladesh, which protects the right of unions to form, and violates ILO Conventions 87 and 98 (on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining).