Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar announced that false and fabricated cases filed by police and factory management against 48,000 workers and trade union leaders have been officially withdrawn. “If this government is not worker- and poor-friendly, then who will be?” Majumdar questioned.

He emphasized his long-term observation of Bangladesh’s labor issues, particularly in the ready-made garment sector. Highlighting the harsh realities in many factories, he described how workers were often treated like modern-day slaves. Although structural improvements were introduced following the Rana Plaza tragedy due to Western-backed platforms like the Accord and Alliance, the working conditions for laborers remained largely unchanged.

Majumdar criticized the prevalence of minimal wages, extended working hours, and lack of legal protections, which continue to make life extremely difficult for workers. In many factories, pseudo “PC Committees” influenced by owners have replaced genuine trade unions, undermining workers’ rights. While these committees helped owners present their factories as “compliant” to buyers, they also opened doors to labor exploitation.

As a result, workers’ demands for fair wages were brutally suppressed, with thousands facing dismissals, intimidation, and legal harassment. Majumdar noted that the government has prioritized ending these practices and advancing comprehensive labor sector reforms.