Bangladesh's Labor Strikes Foreshadow Political Violence

Bangladesh's garment workers are engaged in violent strikes and protests to demand higher wages. Large-scale worker unrest is not new for the country's textiles sector, which saw widespread violence and temporary production halts in 2006 and 2010. Moreover, unrest and violence has occurred in Bangladesh throughout much of 2013, as the ruling Awami League has pushed through war crimes trials against political rivals for their actions during the 1971 war for independence from Pakistan. The ongoing labor strikes and protests are a reminder of the polarization between factory owners and workers as well as within the rest of Bangladeshi society ahead of upcoming national elections.