Violence in Bangladesh’s RMG sector serves as a wake-up call
A mob attack on Rafee Mahmood, a business leader, forces us to ask: How much longer must the businesses wait for safety and stability?
The industrial sector in Bangladesh hit a tragic new low on 29 November, when Rafee Mahmood, a second-generation apparel leader and deputy managing director of Mahmud Group, narrowly escaped death. He was violently attacked by a mob of agitated workers armed with rocks, metal rods, and sticks.
Now bedridden with severe injuries, his story is not just a personal tragedy but a chilling reflection of the escalating crisis in the country's ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
Mahmud Group, one of Bangladesh's leading RMG enterprises, is not an isolated victim. Like many other factories, it has been grappling with skyrocketing energy costs, erratic gas supplies, and declining orders due to global instability and local economic challenges, which have led to delays in paying workers' salaries.
Many factories are struggling to meet their payroll obligations, with financial institutions now withdrawing their support due to the weak banking system and the capital flight that has exposed flaws in the financial sector.
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Worker protests and road blockages have become a daily occurrence. Owners, trying to navigate this precarious situation, are repeatedly left to fend for themselves amidst growing unrest.
On the fateful day, Rafee visited his factory in an attempt to de-escalate tensions—an act of responsibility that nearly cost him his life. Reports revealed the brutality of the attack, with attempts to strangle him and inflict fatal blows. The severity of this attack raises pressing questions: Was this violence premeditated?
Is there a third party fuelling the unrest? Could the same workers who had been loyal to this factory for many years commit such atrocities against its owner? And what role is the government playing—or failing to play—in addressing this chaos?
The bigger picture
This unrest stems from a toxic mix of rising inflation, inconsistent energy supplies, political uncertainty, and waning buyer confidence—all of which have pushed many factories to the brink of collapse. Law enforcement agencies, still struggling to re-establish authority, have failed to maintain order. Mob violence, muggings, and assaults are becoming disturbingly routine, endangering not just industries but the economy as a whole.
The RMG sector—one of Bangladesh's largest industries, employing over four million workers and contributing the lion's share of export earnings—is clearly under existential threat. The ramifications of this crisis extend beyond individual factories, threatening the stability of the national economy and Bangladesh's standing in global markets.
Rafee Mahmood's ordeal also highlights a deeper irony. A forward-thinking leader who returned to Bangladesh after completing his education abroad, Rafee invested his time, skills, and knowledge into his family business and the country's future. Notably, he stood in solidarity with the student movement during the July-August protests for change—an act reported by The Business Standard on 3 August, just two days before the ousting of the then head of state.
Today, however, his commitment to a progressive Bangladesh—and his very life—stand under attack.
What must be done?
There's a saying: "Save the tree to enjoy its fruit." This principle now seems most applicable to the RMG sector, the backbone of Bangladesh's economy. If the government, law enforcement, labour unions, and trade organisations fail to ensure the safety of their business leaders, they jeopardise not only their lives but also the livelihoods of millions of workers and the nation's economic stability.
The time for action is now. A coordinated effort is needed to:
Ensure law and order: Strengthen law enforcement to stop mob violence and protect both factory owners and workers. This must be the top priority.
Address root causes: Solve economic issues like unpaid wages and energy shortages to reduce unrest. Strengthen financial institutions and encourage open dialogue between workers, factory owners, unions, trade groups, and the government. This will help ensure fair representation, improve relationships, and provide real solutions to disputes.
Investigate third-party interference: Look into whether outside forces are making the situation worse. Rafee Mahmood's attack is a wake-up call. If action isn't taken, the collapse of the RMG sector could cause a chain reaction, shaking Bangladesh's economy.
Today, it's Rafee. Tomorrow, it could be any other business owner. The question we must ask is: How much longer can businesses endure this constant erosion of their resources and stability?
Sifat I Ishty is a senior lecturer of Economics at Brac University. He is the director of the Bangladesh Apparels Youth Leaders Association (BAYLA).
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
