The Clean Clothes Campaign claims garment union leader Shahidul Islam was murdered for his labour rights activism in Tongi, Gazipur, Bangladesh on 25 June and describes it as “horrendous violence that represents an immense loss for the Bangladesh labour movement.”
The NGO states “Bangladesh Government should immediately and impartially investigate the murder of Shahidul Islam and take punitive actions against the perpetrators of this horrendous killing.”
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The Clean Clothes Campaign explains that as an organiser of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF) for 25 years, he fought for worker rights as a trade union organiser and died fighting for his beliefs.
The NGO says: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends and comrades mourning his loss.”
It continues that Islam, president of BGIWF’s Gazipur district committee and his colleagues were attacked after leaving a meeting with the management at a Prince Jacquard Sweaters Ltd factory to help the workers collect their due bonuses and wages.
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By GlobalDataIt claims: “The factory management refused to comply despite being directed by the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office of Gazipur District to pay the workers’ salaries.”
The Clean Clothes Campaign explains that as the group left the meeting, Islam and other union representatives were approached by a group that attacked them. The attackers viciously punched and kicked him, leaving him unconscious and critically wounded. He was declared dead in a nearby hospital.
The other representatives received medical treatment but weren’t admitted to the hospital.
BGIWF president Kalpona Akter says: “Islam mobilised thousands of workers to join unions, empowering them to become solid factory-level leaders. Throughout his life, he assisted thousands of workers in receiving arrears and severance pay wrongfully denied by their employers. With workers’ needs always in mind, Islam and three other worker representatives met on the evening of his death to discuss a peaceful resolution to a wage dispute and the Eid-ul-Azha festival bonus. He met his fate due to the industry promotion of yellow unionism for years and the neglect of workers’ voices. His contributions to the labour movement were remarkable and will be sorely missed.”
The Clean Clothes Campaign says it fears that much like Aminul Islam’s killing in 2012, Shahidul Islam’s murder will contribute to worker intimidation, making the task of organising even more difficult for union leaders.
It states: “By many accounts, workers in Bangladesh are systematically repressed by employers utilising criminal groups and yellow unions to terrorise workers organising independent democratic unions.”
Ineke Zeldenrust, the International Coordinator at Clean Clothes Campaign said: “The Clean Clothes Campaign network joins all those who grieve the loss of Shahidul Islam. We also stand in solidarity with BGIWF, all those who fight to exercise their rights to freedom of association and the many workers and union members who continue putting themselves at risk to defend workers’ rights and safety in factories across Bangladesh.”
The NGO says Islam leaves behind a wife suffering from cancer and two sons and explains he was the sole breadwinner of his family.
The BGMEA had not responded directly to Just Style’s request to comment at the time of going to press.
