21 March 2015
At a High-Level Conference in Dhaka, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister asked global brands and retailers to fulfil their ‘responsibility’ to ensure acceptable work standards in factories. (more…)
Source: bdnews24 | Foreign minister says buyers take it all from Bangladesh
3 May 2013
The Bangladesh garment building disaster has prompted western clothing brands, and also consumers to consider their shared responsibility. Some western clothing brands that were having items made there have promised financial compensation for the deaths. The European Union is reconsidering trade arrangements, and it is reported that ‘some consumers feel confused over whether they should feel a shared responsibility because of their low-price shopping habits.’
Bangladesh worst ever industrial accident (the third deadly accident in recent months) has killed over 433 people. Both the EU and the US, which are major importers, have pressured Bangladesh to raise the standards. Factory owners in Bangladesh as well as western apparel retailers have faced intense pressure from governments, consumers and labour groups to improve workplace safety.
Source: The New York Times | Bangladesh Fears an Exodus of Apparel Firms
Source: Euronews | Bangladesh workers dying for lack of responsible regulation
10 April 2012
An order of the Supreme Court of India has instructed the Indian government to proceed with a, long delayed, plan to link more than 30 rivers and divert the waters to areas that are water-stressed. If the project materializes it could have significant impact on Bangladesh, a downstream state. The project could benefit from the building of dams and reservoirs both in Nepal and/or Bhutan, two upstream states. Bangladeshi and Nepalese authorities claim that they have not been consulted with as yet while Bhutan claims that it has not appraised the project.