US condemns ‘violent crackdown’ against trade unionists in Bangladesh

The US Department of Labor’s Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee has condemned the alleged police shootings of two readymade garments workers -- Rasel Howlader and Anjuara Khatun.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is deeply concerned over the escalation of violence and crackdown on workers and trade unionists in connection with Bangladesh’s minimum wage review."

"The department condemns the alleged police shootings of Rasel Howlader on Oct 30, 2023, and Anjuara Khatun today,” she said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

It is to be mentioned that a 26-year-old maintenance operator at Design Express Factory and member of the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, Howlader, and Khatun, a 23-year-old sewing machine operator and mother of two children, were killed during separate incidents of protest.

“We call on the government of Bangladesh to respect workers’ freedom of assembly, end the violent crackdown on workers and conduct a full investigation of alleged police involvement in Howlader and Kahtun’s killings,” Thea Lee said in the statement.

She also called for the immediate release of Jewel Miya, a labor organizer from the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation, who was arrested in connection with the minimum wage protests.

The US official urged the Bangladesh government to review the recent minimum wage decision to ensure that it provides equitable compensation that meets the needs of workers and their families.

She stressed on the amendment of existing labor laws to prevent further unrest and guarantee that all workers can fully exercise their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, as called for by the International Labor Organization.