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Fall of Autocratic Government in Bangladesh
Bangladesh

Fall of Autocratic Government in Bangladesh

National Garment Workers Federation

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The Network - NGWF

Pdf of NGWF

Total killed: 439 people (from July 16 to August 5, 2024)

Total injured: About 150,000 according to various newspapers and TV reports (exact injury numbers are still not available)

Workers killed:
- Garment workers: 7 people
- Shop, hotel, sales center, and similar workers: 36 people
- Day laborers and similar workers: 17 people
- Car, truck, rickshaw-van workers: 21 people

 

Identities of the victims: Garment worker Yamin Chowdhury from Bandar, worker Md. Rasel from Narayanganj, garment worker Md. Zaman Mia from Mymensingh, garment worker Shubho Sheel from Savar, and Zakir Hossain, production manager of a garment factory in Kapasia, Gazipur, have been killed by gunfire. Among them, four were shot on July 19 and Shubho Sheel was shot on July 20. Later, four died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Shubho Sheel died at Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar.

The National Garment Workers Federation has supported the struggle from the beginning in its official statement. Unfortunately, during this time, the National Garment Workers Federation has faced significant losses:

- Federation members killed: 4 people
- Injured: More than 50 people
- Arrested: More than 100 people

 

Among them, Zakir Hossain, joint general secretary of Mohammadpur regional embroidery committee of the federation and active organizer Md. Sohel were killed by police firing. Central office secretary Md Riad Hossain, central leader Camelia Hasan, Samir Hossain were injured.


 Mostly students and workers have died in the quota reform movement.
 75 percent of those killed were children, adolescents, and young adults.
 Analysis shows that most of the deceased had fatal gunshot wounds on their bodies.
 According to information from 31 hospitals in Dhaka: More than 24,000 were injured.
 More than 11,000 have been arrested across the country.
 274 cases have been filed in various police stations in Dhaka metropolitan area.
 As of August 1, 3,011 people have been arrested in Dhaka cases.
 More than 200,000 people have been accused across the country.

 

Majority of the victims were working class people. Looking at the information about the dead people, we see that many of them were workers, small shop owners, store workers, drivers, and poor people.Use of deadly weapons.

Deadly weapons were used. We looked at information about 175 people who died. We found that 78 out of every 100 dead people had deadly gunshot wounds on their bodies.

Most of the bullets hit their heads, chests, backs, and stomachs.

Quota: A quota means a set amount of something saved for a specific group. It's mainly used to include disadvantaged people in society's main activities. Quotas exist in education, jobs, and other areas. Many countries use quota systems. Bangladesh has had quotas since 1972.

Until 2018, Bangladesh had these job quotas for first and second-class government jobs:
- 30% for freedom fighters' children
- 10% for women
- 10% for specific districts
- 5% for small ethnic groups
- 1% for disabled people

This totaled 56% of jobs reserved for quotas.

Since 2018, job seekers and students have been asking to change this system. After this announcement in Parliament, the government issued an official notice in October 2018. In 2021, children of freedom fighters filed a legal case against this notice. On December 6, 2021, the High Court cancelled the notice that changed the quota system. The government then appealed this decision in the Supreme Court. Demanding reform of quota system, job aspirants and general students have been continuously agitating since 2018 demanding reform of quota system. In the face of continuous agitation, the government of Bangladesh announced the cancellation of the 46-year-old quota system in the first- and second-class government jobs in 2018. In 2021, the Children of Freedom Fighters filed a writ in the High Court against the executive circular issued in October 2018 after the announcement of the abolition of quota in the National Parliament.

The High Court canceled the quota change circular on December 6, 2021. The government appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Fall of the Government: A 36-Day Movement

In June 2024, Bangladesh witnessed the beginning of a transformative 36-day movement that would ultimately lead to the fall of the government. It started when students at Dhaka University began peacefully protesting a court ruling that reinstated the freedom fighter quota in government jobs. The students, advocating for a merit-based system, initially demonstrated through non-violent means. However, the situation began to deteriorate when the Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, initiated confrontations with the protesters. This escalation prompted interventions by police, RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), and BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh), resulting in violent clashes and student casualties.The turning point came on July 16th when Abu Saeed, an unarmed student from Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was fatally shot by police during a peaceful protest. His death sparked nationwide outrage and galvanized the movement, transforming it from a specific issue protest to a broader demand for government accountability and reform. As the protests intensified, student leaders like Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Abu Baker Majumdar, and Nusrat Tabassum emerged as key coordinators of the "anti- discrimination student movement." Their leadership helped organize nationwide blockades and shutdowns, effectively bringing the country to a standstill.The government’s response were harsh. A nationwide crackdown led to mass arrests, including the detention of the movement's coordinators. Curfews were imposed, the army was deployed, and internet services were cut off in an attempt to quell the uprising.The movement gained international attention, with the UN Secretary-General calling for a transparent investigation into the clashes. This global scrutiny added pressure on the government, leading to the release of some detained coordinators. By early August, the protests had spread to 33 districts, with thousands gathering at Dhaka's central Shaheed Minar. The movement's demands had evolved into a singular call for the government's resignation. The situation reached its peak on August 4th during an all-out non- cooperation program. Massive clashes erupted in 18 districts, resulting in 114 deaths.

 

This tragic day marked a point of no return for the government. On August 5th, in a historic turn of events, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country. Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government. As news spread, protesters stormed key government buildings, including the Ganobhaban and Parliament. Symbolic fires broke out at significant locations like the Bangabandhu Bhavan in Dhanmondi and the Awami League office. This 36-day movement, born from a specific grievance about job quotas, had transformed into a revolution that toppled the government, highlighting the power of student activism and the unpredictable nature of political change in Bangladesh.

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6/8/2024

We are publishing this message from our comrades at the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) in Bangladesh. NGWF is member of the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle.

The member organisations of the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle Network denounce the massive repression that has resulted in hundreds of deaths, in response to the peaceful demonstrations by students demanding an end to discrimination. We offer our solidarity and support to our comrades in Bangladesh.

 

As a result of the prolonged struggle by students and mass people, the autocratic government has finally fallen. The head of the government not only resigned but also left the country. In the meantime, the army has taken temporary control of the government. According to the commitment made by the chief of the army, a meeting will be called soon to form an interim government.

NGWF by official statement supported the struggle from the starting point. NGWF also issued another public statement against the murders, mass arrests and the total massacre.

Unfortunately, we have suffered significant losses during these events:

-        NGWF Members Lost: 4

-        Ready-Made Garments Workers Lost: 11

-        Injured: Over 50

-        Arrested: Over 100

We are currently working to identify the total number of injured and imprisoned individuals, number of cases filed against the activists and workers. We will send detailed information as soon as it is available. Rest assured, we are closely and carefully monitoring the situation. 

Your continued support is crucial during these challenging times. Please keep an eye on us and the Ready-Made Garments workers.

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