"Bangladesh: union leader released from jail but the fight continues", 27 March 2025

Kabir Hossain, joint secretary of Bangladeshi union National Garment Workers’ Federation (NGWF), was finally released from jail on 21 March after being unlawfully arrested on 12 March over a false case filed by Polo Composite Knit Industries.

On 8 March, workers at Polo Composite protested against unpaid wages and illegal dismissals. The protest was brutally crushed by management and the proposed union committee members were physically assaulted and illegally terminated. Kabir Hossain was accused of provoking labour unrest and violence, as well as of stealing assets worth 25 million BDT (US$203,532). On 12 March, police raided the NGWF office in Savar, seized union documents, vandalised the union office and illegally detaining Hossain and the proposed president and general secretary of union at Polo Composite. They were later arrested under a case filed by management.

Since NGWF began efforts to unionize workers at Polo Composite, management has left no stone unturned to harass and intimidate proposed union committee members, including the president and general secretary. In November last year, when workers struck work to demand pending wages of October, management hired goons to break the strike and filed false cases against eight workers, including the proposed union president and general secretary. They were accused of blocking the factory gate, obstructing workers and officials from entering the factory, colluding with outsiders to break into the factory, attacking the security manager, vandalizing office property and stealing office furniture.

The eight workers were also not paid the outstanding wages. This has turned into a trend at Polo Composite; when workers raise their voice against unfair labour practice, they are met with dismissals, physical attacks and criminal charges.

NGWF has filed several complaints against the company with the BGMEA, as well as taking the matter to labour court. Currently, 17 worker complaints are pending with the BGMEA...