Student movements, Garments workers, movement against multinational companies

1. BANGLADESH: FIGHTING FOR FUTURE
Ovinu Kibria Islam
Communist Party of Bangladesh

2. Where we are

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. •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

6. •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.

7. 1947- PARTITION OF INDIA

8. •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.

9. Bangla language
 Around 300 millions people speak in Bangla
Sixth most widely spoken language
Official language of Bangladesh, few province of India & Sierra Leon

10. 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

11. Official webpage of UNESCO about the
International Mother Language Day

12. •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.

13. •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.

14. •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.

15. •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. 16 December 1971- Victory Day

17. •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

18. 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.

19. Youth Movement – Fighting for Democracy

20. •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

21. •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

22. •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

23. ● 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

24. •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

25. 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

26. •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

27. 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

28. 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

29. DECADE OF DISASTER: BANGLADESH ACCIDENTS 2005-2013

30. June 27 2013 12
2005 SPECTRUM COLLAPSE
64 KILLED – 80 INJURED
Inditex, Carrefour, Scapino, Karstad,
others

31. June 27 2013 13 2006 KTS TEXTILE FIRE 61 KILLED – 100 INJURED Mermain int, ATT, Vida, Leslee Scott, others Image: CCC

33. June 27 2013 15 2006 IMAM TRANSFORMER EXPLOSION 57 INJURED IN STAMPEDE K-mart, Folsom, others Image: Google Maps

35. June 27 2013 17 2010 GARIB & GARIB FIRE 21 DEAD – 50 INJURED H&M, Otto, El Corte Ingles, Terranova, others Image: CCC

36. 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

38. June 27 2013 20 2012 TAZREEN FIRE 112 KILLED – 120 INJURED C&A, Kik, Walmart, Disney, Sears, Kmart, others Image: CCC

40. June 27 2013 22 2013 RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE 1230+ KILLED – 2500+ INJURED Benetton, BonMarche, Mango, Primark, others Image: Reuters

41. June 27 2013 23 2013 TUNG HAI FIRE 8 KILLED Several European brands Image: Reuters

44. 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…

45. Movement of the Garments Workers

46. •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

47. •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

48. •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

49. •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

50. Movement against Global Capitalism Movement for Nature

51. •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

52. •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

53. 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.

54. •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