Equal Times

17 November 2023

Death, injury and disease: the battle to improve working conditions in South Asia’s shipbreaking yards

Every year, thousands of ships around the world reach the end of their lives. The vast majority meet their end in South Asia, where, every year, almost 70 per cent of the vessels are dismantled on just three beaches, often with no regard for the workers’ health and [...]Read the full article

Ten years on from Rana Plaza, how much have conditions in Bangladesh's garment industry improved?

24 April 2023

Labour

Ten years on from Rana Plaza, how much have conditions in Bangladesh’s garment industry improved?

“The same individuals who own the garment factories also hold positions in the parliament and cabinet. There is no representative of the workers in the parliament. The rulers are exploiting us.”Read the full article

Women's right to land is the foundation for a better tomorrow

9 March 2023

Development

Women’s right to land is the foundation for a better tomorrow

Kalpana Karki: “According to a study by the International Land Coalition, South Asia and Latin America exhibit the highest levels of agricultural land inequality, with the top 10 per cent of landowners capturing up to 75 per cent of agricultural land and the bottom 50 per cent owning less than 2 per [...]Read the full article

After Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza, Covid-19 once again exposes the human cost of fast fashion

26 February 2021

Labour

After Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza, Covid-19 once again exposes the human cost of fast fashion

Many Bangladeshi workers are more afraid of dying of hunger than they are of dying from Covid-19.Read the full article

In Bangladesh, “workers are not responsible for climate change but we are the ones losing everything because of it”

9 December 2020

Environment

In Bangladesh, “workers are not responsible for climate change but we are the ones losing everything because of it”

Rising sea levels have forced workers to migrate to Bangladesh’s congested cities and accept extremely poor working conditions and low wages out of sheer desperation. The Bangladeshi trade unions are fighting to protect these workers while adopting just transition [...]Read the full article

Bangladesh is already living with the consequences of climate change

13 March 2020

Environment

Bangladesh is already living with the consequences of climate change

In Sundarbans (in Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated countries in the world, as well as one of the country’s worst affected by climate change) a combination of a rising sea level and river erosion is submerging entire villages and causing the forced displacement of millions of [...]Read the full article

28 January 2020

Human rights

The secret gardens of Rohingya refugees

The vegetable gardens of the world’s largest refugee camp provide Rohingya families with food, companionship and solace.Read the full article

From Indonesia to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Philippines' deadly drug war is spreading across the region

27 June 2019

Human rights

From Indonesia to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Philippines’ deadly drug war is spreading across the region

The use of state-sanctioned violence against alleged drug criminals could be spreading to south Asia where it would have a hugely detrimental impact on human rights and the rule of law.Read the full article

28 February 2019

Labour

We’ll tell you what we want, what we really, really want: freedom, safety and a living wage for garment workers

Clean Clothes Campaign: “Taking decisive action would demand that brands reach deeper into their profit margins and cut a bigger slice of the pie for those whose hard labour is behind the clothes that fills their glossy shops.”Read the full article

“They have forgotten the lessons of Rana Plaza”

20 April 2018

Labour

“They have forgotten the lessons of Rana Plaza”

Today, 445 factories with more than 216,000 workers have unions to represent their interests and protect their rights.Read the full article

The Rohingya stuck between despair and insurgency

25 September 2017

Human rights

The Rohingya stuck between despair and insurgency

“Whilst some Rohingyas do not believe ARSA is working in the best interest of their community, the sheer scale of the violence and the displacements is leading others to think they have nothing to lose in joining the armed struggle.”Read the full article

Bangladesh pushes ahead with plans to send Rohingya refugees to uninhabited island

21 March 2017

Human rights

Bangladesh pushes ahead with plans to send Rohingya refugees to uninhabited island

The uninhabited island of Thengar Char has none of the basic infrastructure, such as housing, schools, roads or hospitals, required to accommodate the Rohingya refugees Bangladesh wants to relocate.Read the full article

24 April 2015

Labour

Return to Rana Plaza

On the second anniversary of one of the worst industrial accidents in history, the Dhaka-based documentary photographer Wahid Adnan returned to Rana Plaza for Equal Times. Here’s what he foundRead the full article