Category Archives: Bidesh

Michael Guerriero: Ten Cents

. Bidesh, Garments, Globalization, US
© Larry Buchanan / New Yorker

© Larry Buchanan / New Yorker

The Number: Ten Cents
by Michael Guerriero for The New Yorker

It’s often reported that the recession turned Americans into frugal shoppers. Well, here’s a bargain: spending about ten cents more on a piece of clothing produced in Bangladesh could prevent disasters like the horrific collapse, last month, of the Rana Plaza factory, which killed over a thousand people, the deadliest accident in history of the garment industry. Continue reading →

Canada’s Tristan Style withdraws anti-Bangladesh ad after protests

. Bidesh, Canada, Garments, Globalization
Image Source: Shyamal Mahmood

Image Source: Shyamal Mahmood

Canada’s Tristan Style has now withdrawn the anti-Bangladesh ad and posted an apology on their public Facebook page. Below is the apology they posted and the comments on the public Facebook page. Please add your comments as well.

Tristan: We recently posted a sign in one of our stores and want to apologize for the miscommunication of our message, which was removed the minute we realized the idea behind it may have been misinterpreted by some. The true intent of our message was to promote awareness of the importance of ethical manufacturing practices, something we remain committed to. Our thoughts are with the families suffering for their losses in Bangladesh. Continue reading →

Khushi Kabir: They Are Our S/Heroes

. Bidesh, Garments

Dont Stop Buying

I spent the last 2 days in Savar. A concerted effort of architects, civil engineers, disaster trained workers from Red Cross & other agencies, trained community groups, fire fighters, armed forces, all have collectively formed a task force, and are slowly using heavy equipment to surely though slowly cut the top (maps have been made of the structure etc.) and lift people, dead and alive, as well as other equipment to remove debris. The process is slow, but the time for the public action, which was amazing,THEY ARE OUR S/HEROES, the only ones who went inside, is now no more feasible. Continue reading →

Fariha Sarawat: Buyers are also culpable

. Bidesh, Economy, Garments, Multinational

Who Will Bell the Cat?
Guest Post by Fariha Sarawat

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Much has been said about who’s to blame for the story state of garments workers’ rights, safety and working conditions in Bangladesh.

Some people, including some local manufacturers, would like us to buy in to the narrative of exploitative buyers whose predatory negotiations force our manufacturers to cut costs (because they are afraid they would lose the order otherwise to China or others) in order to stay competitive and that leaves the latter with little (once costs of inputs, overheads etc have been deducted) to pay to the workers. Continue reading →