Published on 25 August 2025.

Police Assault on workers demonstration, Bangladesh - 2025

A worker counts Taka.

On 13 August 2025, the police attacked a peaceful demonstration organised by the Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre (BGSWTUC) together with workers from the companies Youngones (BD) Ltd. Unit-2 (OS ID: BD2019091KRTFN5) and Stylecraft Limited (OS ID: BD2019083HSAR1A) in Gazipur. Both companies share at least one manager (https://www.bgmea.com.bd/member/4304; https://bgmea.com.bd/member/3717)

Style Craft Ltd. Is a supplier to River Island, according to River Islands supplier list (Sept. 2024).

The demonstration started at National Press Club in Dhaka. The demonstrators were demanding their legal right to compensation following their dismissal. At least 30 workers, some of them seriously injured, including General Secretary Kazi Ruhul Amin, were treated at Dhaka Medical College after being attacked for demanding fair compensation in accordance with the law.

The demonstration arose from a protracted dispute involving 763 workers from Style Craft Limited and Youngones (BD) Ltd. Unit-2 in Gazipur. The workers had already been dismissed several months ago without receiving the payments they were entitled to. After protracted struggles, a tripartite agreement was reached on 25 June 2025 at a meeting chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, which set out a payment schedule in four instalments. However, implementation fell short of commitments due to delays and unfulfilled promises to the workers.

While 460 workers received the first instalment on 29 May, 303 workers remained unpaid.
The second instalment, scheduled for 31 July, did not materialise despite promises made by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) in Gazipur.

After exhausting official channels, the workers organised a peaceful march to deliver a memorandum to the chief advisor.

At around 11:00 a.m. on 13 August 2025, workers gathered in front of the National Press Club for a previously announced, lawful demonstration. When the peaceful march arrived in front of the High Court, they were attacked by the police, leaving at least thirty participants seriously injured and requiring hospitalisation.