Urgent action needed as RMG suicides surge

Any suicide is deeply tragic, and it is an affront to overall humanity. The act of taking one's own life is unacceptable in any circumstance. Yet, every year, countless people around the world end their lives at their own will. A similar horrific trend has emerged in Bangladesh. According to a recent report by Views Bangladesh, there has been an alarming rise in suicides in the industrial area of Ashulia over the past six months. It is reported that 159 suicide incidents have been recorded in Ashulia police station during this period. Many bodies have been buried without informing the police. Police sources said that reports of one or more suicides arrive at the station daily. Among these cases, 90 per cent are garment workers.

The sudden rise in suicides among garment workers has caused great concern in the Ashulia industrial area, said Khairul Mamun Mintu, the legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garment Workers and Sweater Workers Trade Union Center. He told Views Bangladesh that garment workers are under constant pressure. In addition to family pressures, the work environment in the factories also contributes to their mental strain. Therefore, both family members and factory authorities should take steps to reduce this mental stress on the workers.

We know that after the mass uprising, all sectors of business and trade in Bangladesh have been negatively affected. Many industries and factories have halted their investments. The negative impact is particularly severe in the garment sector. Due to the gas crisis, many medium and small garment factories are also closing down. In such a situation, many garment workers are losing their jobs and are living uncertain lives as they face unemployment. Could this be the reason behind the rising suicide rate among garment workers?

According to information from Ashulia police, local labor leaders, media outlets, and NGOs working with workers, the trend of suicides has increased in Ashulia over the past year. The majority of those in the list are garment workers. From Monday (February 10) to Tuesday (February 11), four garment workers committed suicide within 24 hours. A worker couple, Shawon and Hafiza, chose to hang themselves for some unknown reason. On the same day, the police recovered the body of a man named Mostafa, who had hung himself at a factory in Ashulia. Also, on the same day, the body of another garment worker, Farzana Begum, was recovered from the Kathalbagan area of Ashulia.

If we analyze the background of the individuals committing suicide in this region, we find that most of them are low-income individuals, particularly garment workers. Among the others on the suicide list, many are students, and some were reportedly in a state of mental imbalance. Family and police sources indicate that many students are choosing suicide due to failed relationships, academic pressures, criticism from peers, or excessive discipline from parents. Human rights activists argue that to prevent suicides, there needs to be greater family awareness. They suggest that couples should be more caring in their relationships and that parents should be more tolerant with their children.

For those who end their lives due to temporary problems, there is no consolation for such loss. The government should urgently investigate the causes behind these suicides and take necessary measures to solve this. The immediate solution is to provide our garment workers with a secure, stable life, which will help them live with more certainty and safety.