Bangladesh: Would Rana Plaza Be a Game Changer?
Bangladesh: Would Rana Plaza be a game-changer?
Majyd Aziz
Cupidity. Cronyism. Corruption. These blend into a lethal Molotov Cocktail that if exploded, brings about pain, misery or death. There is enough empirical evidence accumulated to substantiate this premise. The unashamed misuse of power or callously exploiting access in the corridors of power, are black spots on governance, on accountability, and on humanity. One such gruesome and shocking symbol is the crumbling edifice known as Rana Plaza in Savar District, on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. It was home to a bank, apartments, five clothing factories and several shops. More than 3100 people earned their livelihood from there.
Bangladesh, after her emergence in the last days of 1971, became an icon of those states that are known as economic “basket cases”. The rallying cry in those days was to lift this nascent nation, shattered by annual cyclones, deeply embedded in poverty, devastated by civil war, and having a burgeoning population. The strategy was to immediately provide funds for sustenance and also to develop the country through a focused industrialization process.
That is when textiles entered into Bangladesh. Garments and knitwear provided massive employment, not only to men but also to womenfolk as well as children. Major global brands made a beeline to take advantage of the situation and succeeded in making the economy and survival of Bangladesh dependant on these global labels and retail chains. Everyone turned a blind eye to lack of occupational safety standards, low workers emoluments, flouting of labor laws, proliferation of child labor, and ruthless exploitation of money, political influence, and legislation.
Over the past few decades, Bangladesh textile industry flourished. Her decision makers played their cards pragmatically at international forums and this paved the way for the textile industry to enjoy the fruits of trade preferences and privileges. Coup d’état,
Majyd Aziz
Cupidity. Cronyism. Corruption. These blend into a lethal Molotov Cocktail that if exploded, brings about pain, misery or death. There is enough empirical evidence accumulated to substantiate this premise. The unashamed misuse of power or callously exploiting access in the corridors of power, are black spots on governance, on accountability, and on humanity. One such gruesome and shocking symbol is the crumbling edifice known as Rana Plaza in Savar District, on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. It was home to a bank, apartments, five clothing factories and several shops. More than 3100 people earned their livelihood from there.
Bangladesh, after her emergence in the last days of 1971, became an icon of those states that are known as economic “basket cases”. The rallying cry in those days was to lift this nascent nation, shattered by annual cyclones, deeply embedded in poverty, devastated by civil war, and having a burgeoning population. The strategy was to immediately provide funds for sustenance and also to develop the country through a focused industrialization process.
That is when textiles entered into Bangladesh. Garments and knitwear provided massive employment, not only to men but also to womenfolk as well as children. Major global brands made a beeline to take advantage of the situation and succeeded in making the economy and survival of Bangladesh dependant on these global labels and retail chains. Everyone turned a blind eye to lack of occupational safety standards, low workers emoluments, flouting of labor laws, proliferation of child labor, and ruthless exploitation of money, political influence, and legislation.
Over the past few decades, Bangladesh textile industry flourished. Her decision makers played their cards pragmatically at international forums and this paved the way for the textile industry to enjoy the fruits of trade preferences and privileges. Coup d’état,