Ashulia sees 159 suicides in 6 months, 90% RMG workers

The suicide rate has risen alarmingly in the industrial area of Ashulia over the past six months. According to records, Ashulia Police Station has documented 159 suicide cases during this period. Additionally, several bodies were buried without informing the police.

Police sources state that reports of one or more suicides reach the station almost daily. Among these cases, 90 percent are garment workers.

The sudden surge in suicides among garment workers has caused widespread concern in Ashulia’s industrial sector, said Khairul Mamun Mintu, Legal Affairs Secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Center.

Speaking to Views Bangladesh, he said, “Garment workers already experience immense pressure. They face challenges not only from their families but also from their workplace environment. Factory authorities should take steps to reduce the mental stress on workers.”

According to data from Ashulia Police Station, local labor leaders, media reports, and NGOs working with workers, the suicide rate in Ashulia has increased significantly over the past year, with garment workers comprising the majority of cases.

Following the events of August 5, many garment factories shut down, leaving a large number of workers unemployed. This has created uncertainty regarding their livelihood, which experts believe is a major factor in the rising suicide rate.

Within just 24 hours, from Monday (February 10) to Tuesday (February 11), four garment workers took their own lives. A worker couple, Shaon and Hafiza, ended their lives by hanging themselves from the same rope for an unknown reason. On the same day, police recovered the hanging body of a worker named Mostafa from a factory in Ashulia. Another garment worker, Farzana Begum, was found dead in the Kathalbagan area of Ashulia.

Reports indicate that the industrial region of Savar is home to over 3 million people. The area has more than 1,800 factories and houses numerous workers from various districts. According to preliminary estimates by NGOs and labor organizations, 55% of the deceased were women, while 45% were men.

Experts have identified several factors contributing to these suicides, including family disputes, financial problems, romantic issues, and mental stress.

Interviews with the families of some of the victims reveal that most of those who took their own lives were female workers. Human rights activists report that many of these women were victims of domestic violence or family disputes, pushing them toward suicide. For men, sudden unemployment has been cited as the primary reason, followed by family conflicts and extreme workplace stress.

Views Bangladesh spoke to two garment workers who survived suicide attempts (their names have been changed for privacy reasons).

Riyad (20), a worker in a garment factory in Jamgora, Ashulia, attempted suicide in his rented room on December 22. When asked why he took such a step, he explained that he had moved from Sirajganj to Baipail, Ashulia, three years ago to live with a relative. Initially, he worked as a security guard at a filling station but later found a job in a garment factory. Most of his salary went to his family back home, leaving him with little for himself.

During this time, he met Tania (pseudonym), another garment worker, and they got married without family approval after just one month of knowing each other. However, after a year and a half, they began arguing regularly about money. Riyad later discovered that Tania was involved in another relationship, which left him emotionally shattered, leading him to attempt suicide.

Another garment worker, Soma (26), shared her story. She had an arranged marriage but suffered abuse at her in-laws’ house. Eventually, she moved to Baripara, Ashulia, with her husband. While her husband ran a small tea shop, their financial situation remained dire. To support their two daughters’ education, Soma started working in a garment factory.

After she began earning, her husband pressured her for money and started abusing her. Unable to bear the mistreatment, she left him and moved into a separate apartment with her daughters. However, her husband continued harassing her. Struggling with both domestic and workplace stress, she attempted suicide.

Local police officers conduct field investigations into these suicides. Sub-inspector Jasim Uddin, responsible for preliminary investigations and forensic reports, told Views Bangladesh, “We recover bodies based on reports from locals. Most of these victims are low-income individuals, particularly garment workers.”

Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan of Industrial Police-1 told Views Bangladesh, “Many people migrate from villages to cities in search of jobs, only to face extreme financial hardship. Many also marry early or without family consent. Alongside economic struggles, they experience family disputes. We are working on raising awareness among workers in factories. We are receiving positive feedback and hope to see improvements soon.”

Apart from garment workers, many students and individuals suffering from mental health issues were also among the victims.

According to family and police sources, students are resorting to suicide due to romantic failures, academic pressure, peer criticism, and excessive parental control.

Human rights activists stress the need for family awareness to prevent suicides. They advise spouses to be more considerate in their relationships and parents to adopt a more understanding approach toward their children.