In a disconcerting development from Bangladesh, a factory employee was fatally shot by law enforcement during a labour agitation over pay issues. While the victim did not take part in the demonstration, Bangladeshi law officers fatally shot Anjuara Khatun, a garment factory worker based in Gazipur, Bangladesh, as per JURIST – News.
In fact, according to Inspector Jahangir Hossain, Anjuara was shot by the police shortly after leaving her workplace in the Zarun area of Konabari, Gazipur. He mentioned that though there were no signs that Anjuara was shot in the head, the fatal bullet caused her to fall, after which she was trampled by protestors which led to her death. Postmortem examinations were carried out at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Troublingly, this incident is not isolated. Workers in Bangladesh have been protesting for upgraded pay rates in light of a recent rise in the minimum wage. Despite this being the first increase in five years, they are calling for a more significant hike and their protests have been met with forceful responses from the police.
Such protests last week have already led to the deaths of other workers, including Rasel Howlader and Imran Hossain, who perished in a factory fire in Dhaka. Acknowledging the severity of the situation, U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, released a statement condemning the violence used by Bangladeshi law enforcement against the demonstrating workers. He expressed concerns over ongoing repression of workers and trade unionists, urging the Bangladeshi government to ensure workers’ rights for peaceful protest and to investigate allegations of false criminal charges against workers and labour leaders.
Awaiting the verdict of the coroner on the actual causes of Anjuara’s death, this incident underlines the tense and turbulent environment in which these workers are compelled to fight for their rights.