The ban on Bangladesh’s Awami League is increasingly being used as a justification for arresting and intimidating garment workers demanding higher wages, according to an analysis published by The Diplomat on Thursday.
In an article titled “How the Ban on the Awami League is Being Turned on Bangladesh’s Garment Workers”, Sangita Gazi, a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a Transatlantic Technology Law Fellow at Stanford Law School, argued that political exclusion under the current legal framework is undermining democratic rights and worsening labour unrest.
The article said hundreds of thousands of garment workers across Mirpur, Ashulia, Gazipur and Narayanganj had joined protests since October 31, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 amid rising food prices, inflation and energy costs.
However, within a day of the protests, police alleged that the movement had been infiltrated by Awami League activists and questioned whether many demonstrators were genuine garment workers.
According to the article, police detained 21 people identified as Awami League activists, alongside thousands of unidentified individuals, under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also blamed supporters of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for the unrest, although the article noted that the allegation was made without supporting evidence. He also alleged that the protests were being instigated from across the border.
The article raised concerns that the government’s use of the anti-terrorism legislation was creating an environment of fear among labour leaders, forcing some into hiding. It also cited allegations of disproportionate police force, including reports of workers being beaten and police raids on slum areas to detain protesters.
Workers, however, rejected claims that their movement was politically orchestrated, saying deteriorating living conditions and wages insufficient to meet basic needs had driven them to the streets.
Concerns over political exclusion
The article traced the controversy to the interim government’s decision to ban the Awami League on May 12, 2025, under the amended Anti-Terrorism Act. The Election Commission subsequently suspended the party’s registration, preventing it from participating in the February 2026 national election.
It argued that the ban, which covers party meetings, publications and online support, has effectively excluded a major political force from the country’s political process.
Citing Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and United Nations experts, the article questioned the legality and human rights implications of the ban, particularly the absence of adequate judicial oversight.
It also referred to at least 8,600 arrests during the Operation Devil Hunt campaign and concerns over the filing of mass murder cases against thousands of mostly unnamed individuals.
Economic pressures mount
The analysis warned that the political and labour tensions were emerging at a particularly difficult time for Bangladesh’s economy.
Citing World Bank projections, it said the country was expected to record economic growth of 3.4 per cent in both FY2026 and FY2027, while rising non-performing loans, weak revenue collection and increasing poverty continued to weigh on the economy.
It further noted that 457 garment and textile factories had closed between August 2024 and June 2026, resulting in the loss of more than 240,000 jobs, most of them held by women.
Net foreign direct investment also declined by around 13 per cent to $1.47 billion in FY2026, while the share of US apparel buyers sourcing from Bangladesh reportedly fell to approximately 78 per cent from 88 per cent a year earlier.
The article also highlighted concerns over the February 9, 2026, reciprocal trade agreement with the United States, arguing that increased duty-free access for American products and commitments to dollar-denominated purchases could place additional pressure on Bangladesh’s already limited revenue base.
Workers remain neglected
Despite the ready-made garment sector generating nearly $39 billion in export earnings in the last financial year, the article argued that workers remained among the most neglected groups in the industry.
It recalled the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, which killed 1,134 people, and the Tazreen factory fire in 2012, which claimed at least 112 lives.
The current entry-level minimum wage of Tk 12,500, set in December 2023, remains far below workers’ demands. Even experienced sewing operators reportedly earn around Tk 15,000 a month, with some struggling to afford adequate food.
While garment manufacturers have warned that substantial wage increases could raise production costs and push international buyers towards competing countries such as Vietnam, India and Cambodia, the article stressed that suppressing workers’ demands would not ensure long-term stability.
It concluded that political exclusion and the branding of wage protesters as political agents risk undermining both democracy and economic confidence, warning that Bangladesh cannot rebuild its political institutions or economy by restricting people’s right to express dissent.
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