The Fair Labor Association has called for a full investigation into the tragic death of Bangladeshi labor rights activist Aminul Islam. We commend Aminul’s courage and are deeply saddened by his death.
Worker rights’ advocates play a critical role in shining the light on inhumane working conditions in factories around the world. Aminul at the Bangladeshi Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS), along with other labor rights advocates, have suffered intimidation, harassment and abuse for their work supporting garment workers. This is unacceptable and must end.
We call upon the Bangladeshi government to immediately conduct a full and thorough investigation into Aminul’s death and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. We urge the government to heed the call from the international community for urgent reform of labor practices in the apparel sector. Otherwise, the workers – the real drivers of Bangladesh’s manufacturing industry – will continue to bear the brunt of a broken system.