DHAKA: Marking International Labour Day on Friday, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed grave concern, stating that the progress achieved in the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors over the last one and a half decades has faced setbacks since August 5, 2024.
Hasina alleged that the “retaliatory actions” of the previous interim government led by Muhammad Yunus resulted in the closure of thousands of factories, including the garment sector, while 2.1 million workers lost their jobs in a year.
“It is with regret that I say the momentum we built in industry and agriculture over one and a half decades has been disrupted after August 5, 2024. Due to the retaliatory actions of the unelected Yunus government, thousands of factories, including garment industries, have been shut down. Within just one year, 2.1 million workers lost their jobs. By September 2025, 3 million people had fallen into extreme poverty. This trend of crisis continues,” read a statement issued by Hasina, which was posted by the Awami League on its social media platform X.
Addressing the people of Bangladesh on the occasion, Hasina recalled that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dedicated his life to securing the rights of the oppressed, deprived, and working class in the country. She stressed that following his ideals, the Awami League government during its tenure had introduced several initiatives aimed at improving the living standards and welfare of working people.
“These include the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2018, National Labour Policy 2012 to ensure social dignity of workers, National Child Labour Elimination Policy 2010, National Occupational Health and Safety Policy 2013, Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015, and Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy 2015,” she stated.
“On this historic day, I remind you that the Awami League has always stood by the rights, interests, and welfare of working people. We will certainly overcome this dark period and bring Bangladesh’s economy back onto the path of development,” Hasina asserted. (IANS)
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