Threads Under Pressure: The Ready-Made Garment Workers’ Rights Crisis in Bangladesh 2026

For the Bengali and French versions of this Report, please scroll down.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) presents this report, Threads Under Pressure: The Ready-Made Garment Workers’ Rights Crisis in Bangladesh, at a critical time. Since 5 August 2024, the sector has experienced factory closures, mass job losses, wage insecurity, labour unrest, financial difficulties, and growing uncertainty for workers and their families.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JMBF Launches Landmark Report Exposing Escalating Crisis of Ready-Made Garment Workers' Rights in Bangladesh

"Threads Under Pressure: The Ready-Made Garment Workers' Rights Crisis in Bangladesh 2026"

For the Bengali and French versions of this Press Release, please scroll down.

Paris, France | 15 July 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based independent international human rights organization, today released its human rights monitoring report, "Threads Under Pressure: The Ready-Made Garment Workers' Rights Crisis in Bangladesh 2026," documenting widespread labour rights violations and a deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector during the first half of 2026.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Calls for Independent Investigation into Female Garment Worker’s Death and Police Violence in Gazipur

Paris, France | 28 June 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound concern, strong condemnation, and outrage over the baton charge, the deployment of sound grenades, and the excessive use of force by the Industrial Police against peacefully assembled garment workers in Tepirbari, Sreepur Upazila, Gazipur, following the death of a female garment worker, leaving at least 12 workers injured on 27 June 2026.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Expresses Deep Concern and Strong Condemnation over the Mass Illness of More Than One Hundred Garment Workers in Gazipur

Paris, France | 18 June 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern, strong condemnation, and profound outrage over the incident in which more than one hundred workers reportedly fell ill after consuming water supplied by the Dressman Limited garment factory in the Chandra area of Kaliakair Upazila, Gazipur. The France-based international human rights organization has simultaneously called for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident, exemplary punishment for those responsible, and full compliance with international human rights and labour standards.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned and Strongly Condemns the Killing of One Worker and Injuries to Over Fifty by Police-Military Firing at Uttara EPZ, Nilphamari

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Paris, France | 3 September 2025: The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the killing of one worker and injuries to over fifty others by police and military personnel shooting during the worker protest at Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Nilphamari on 2 September 2025.

JMBF firmly believes that the shooting of one worker and the wounding of over fifty others during the Uttara EPZ protest represent a severe violation of labor rights and human rights in Bangladesh. Continued use of such repressive measures will not only deny workers their legitimate rights but will also further deteriorate the overall human rights situation in Bangladesh and severely damage the country’s international reputation.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Torture, Arrest, and Unjust Layoffs of Garment Workers in Rupganj, Bangladesh

Paris, France; April 11, 2025: The France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), strongly condemns the brutal baton charge and unlawful arrest of garment workers in Rupganj on April 9, 2025, during a peaceful demonstration by law enforcement agencies. The incident, which resulted in the injury of at least 35 workers and the arrest of 10 workers, highlights a disturbing pattern of abuse of power and disregard for basic human rights. Furthermore, the unjustified layoffs of workers without prior notice are an affront to workers' rights and the principles of justice and fairness guaranteed under both national and international law.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Gravely Concerned Over Police Brutality on Garment Workers' Peaceful Protest in Dhaka

Paris, France; March 26, 2025: France-based human rights watchdog JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns and protests police brutality against garment workers during their peaceful protest in Dhaka on March 25, 2025. The police’s deployment of sound grenades, tear gas, and baton charges against unarmed workers demanding their rightful dues before Eid ul-Fitr, resulting in approximately 40 workers being injured, is a flagrant violation of human rights and an unacceptable abuse of power.

JMBF urges an immediate investigation into the police's excessive use of force, accountability for those responsible, and the fulfillment of workers' demands for unpaid wages, Eid bonuses, and maternity leave. Furthermore, the government must protect workers' right to protest and ensure that victims of police brutality receive proper treatment and compensation.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Brutal Killing of Garment Worker by Law Enforcement Agencies in Dhaka

Paris, France; October 01, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and outrage over the brutal killing of Kausar Hossain Khan, a sewing operator for Mango Tex Limited, who was fatally shot by law enforcement agencies during a clash between garment workers and law enforcers in Savar’s Ashulia on September 30, 2024. This heartbreaking incident, which resulted in a tragic death and left several workers injured, represents a gross violation of human rights and underscores the ongoing injustices faced by workers in Bangladesh's garment industry, where their fundamental rights are often disregarded.