Bangladesh

The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh says that one of its factories, M/S Mega Chois Knitwear, has been deemed unsafe for production and occupancy and is urging the building’s occupants to leave immediately. An Accord inspection conducted on February 17 found several severe fire safety violations, including that the factory reportedly only had one fire exit for the company’s over 600 employees. In spite of these findings and several orders to evacuate, Accord officials say that the factory remains in business. (Bangladesh Accord) / (New Age BD)
 
Khaleda Zia, the leader of the primary opposition party in Bangladesh, made her first public appearance on March 13 after being sequestered in her office for weeks while her supporters continue with violent protests against last year’s elections which they maintain were unfair. Zia spoke out against current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of trying to turn Bangladesh into a single-party state be refusing her calls for new polls. At least 110 people have been killed in the violence that has been ongoing since the beginning of the year. (AFP)
 
At least 15 retailers and brands who made commitments to the Rana Plaza Trust Fund have yet to pay their contributions, according to the Rana Plaza Claims Administration (RPCA). It’s estimated that the fund has received US$21 million of US$30 million in promised contributions. The RPCA says that nearly 3,000 claims have been filed by victims and others affected by the disaster. (The Daily Star)
 
At least 8 people have been confirmed dead and over 100 others injured after a cement factory in the port city of Mongla collapsed on March 12. The plant, owned by a subsidiary of the Bangladesh Army, was under construction at the time of the collapse and occurred just weeks before the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013. (BD News 24)
 
Bangladesh’s Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) says that only half of the country’s over 42,000 factories has a DIFE safety clearance. DIFE leaders say that many factory owners are not even aware of the clearance requirement, even despite a major marketing effort undertaken last year. While the country’s large readymade garments sector is one of the leaders in factory registration, many others like jute, pharmaceuticals, and ship breaking have severe deficiencies. (New Age BD))
 
The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) says that it has created a help line for workers to anonymously report workplace grievances. Established with assistance from the International Labor Organization (ILO), calls received on the line will be forwarded to DIFE as well as the Fire Service, the Civil Defense Department, and the Directorate of Labor who will work to address the complaint. The line will initially only serve workers in the Ashulia area and will expand nationwide if it is successful.(The Financial Express)
 
The Bangladeshi government has identified 98 of the 166 workers who are still missing from 2013’s Rana Plaza collapse. The development is the result of an effort undertaken by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to identify the workers who were never located following the disaster. The names of the workers have been submitted to the Prime Minister’s office who will work to get them their due compensation. (Dhaka Tribune)
 
Noted Bangladeshi labor activist Kalpona Akter has returned to Dhaka after being released from a U.S. jail. She was arrested along with 26 other demonstrators on March 12 after demonstrating in front of the headquarters of The Children’s Place demanding that they make good on their promised contribution to the Rana Plaza survivor’s trust fund. It has been reported that the company was sourcing products from Rana Plaza when it collapsed, though the company denies those claims. (The Daily Star)
 
Bangladesh is seeking help from the G7 countries to ensure fair prices for its readymade garment exports and to help build a sustainable supply chain. During a recent G7 meeting in Germany, Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed urged the group’s member nations to pressure international brands and retailers to uphold fairness in the determination of RMG prices in the global supply chain. The G7 includes many of the world’s top apparel markets including the United States and several countries in Europe. (Fibre2Fashion)