Bangladesh

The death toll from the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh has topped 100, according to local authorities. Officials say that at least 67 of those casualties were caused by security forces responding to the reports of unrest. Political protests have been ongoing in Bangladesh since the beginning of the year spurred by efforts of the opposition BNP party which says that last year’s elections that put the incumbent Awami League into power were conducted unethically. An arrest warrant has also been issued for BNP leader Khaleda Zia, along with two others, after they failed to attend hearings regarding embezzlement charges they are facing stemming from Zia’s previous term in office. (AFP ) / (AlJazeera)
 
The declining value of the euro and the ongoing political unrest domestically are hitting Bangladeshi garment exports with a double whammy. The European Union is the largest export destination for Bangladeshi garment exports, accounting for over 60% of annual sales. But the euro has lost 21% of its value over the past 6 months, meaning that Bangladeshi exporters have consequently lost about 23 taka for each euro lost in exports. (The Daily Star)
 
A group of 110 new labor inspectors has begun training in Bangladesh, bringing the total number of inspectors recruited since the Rana Plaza incident to 178. The new inspectors are being trained as part of a joint effort by the International Labor Organization and the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ). The United States has instructed Bangladesh to recruit at least 200 inspectors as one condition of reconsideration for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade scheme. (Dhaka Tribune)