There was a rush of rioting today in the garment factory district of Dhaka earlier this morning. Following an unfortunate accident where a garment factory worker was run over by a speeding bus, factory workers were reported to have torched 15 vehicles, while vandalizing 50 other vehicles. Over 200 riot policemen responded to the outbreak of violence and left 40 individuals injured, whilst over 1oo factories shut down production for the day.
24 year old husband and father Sujan Miah was crushed by a recklessly driven bus that was trying to overtake another bus. Though the driver was not apprehended–and at the time of this writing has not been arrested–violence seemed to break out spontaneously. Quite apart from the economic consequences of rioting and stalled production, this episode seems to underline the affective dissatisfaction that garment workers have long reported. The garment industry is one of the pillars of the Bangladeshi economy and employment in that industry makes up a sizable share of the country’s payroll. Nevertheless, the workers do not get paid a living wage in the garment industry. Indeed, a couple will find employment in the industry but report having to bring home two incomes to make ends meet in a habitable and safe neighborhood.
Though the government has recently promised that wages in the garment industry will be doubled, it seems that will not happen soon enough.