Rights Group Demands Probe Into The Killing Of Human Rights Activist In Bangladesh

Last updated on September 20th, 2023 at 11:22 am

Last month, a brutal incident took place in Bangladesh. Shahidul Islam, who advocated for human rights and workers’ rights throughout his career, was murdered by a group of men at the Prince Jacquard Sweaters factory in Gazipur, a city in central Bangladesh. Subsequently, huge protests erupted in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.

The brutal incident took place on June 25, 2023. Shahidul Islam, the president of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation of the Gazipur district committee, was killed brutally by a group of men. Islam was visiting the factory to get unpaid wages for the laborers. The president of the Gazipur unit of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers’ Federation (BGIWF) died the same day because of the injuries. 

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The Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization that defends the rights of people worldwide, has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the murder of the human rights activist. The HRW urged the Bangladesh authorities to take action against the murderers.

Claudio Francavilla, Human Rights Watch’s Senior EU Advocate, said in a statement, “Ensuring justice and compensation for Shahidul Islam’s death will be a huge test for Bangladesh because the world watches. A labor leader’s murder is a disturbing setback for workers’ freedoms to organize and to seek the support of union leaders to solve labor disputes.”

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Islam went to Prince Jacquard Sweater to demand two months of unpaid wages for the workers and a bonus for the Eid holiday. Subsequently, a group of men and three other organizers outside the factory abused him for demanding unpaid wages. They started beating him continuously. However, the factory’s managing director denied any connection to the attack. 

The Human Rights Watch called on the authorities to investigate the matter and give justice to Islam.