The Heat: Made in Bangladesh

The Heat

Bangladesh is one of the region’s most surprising success stories. In a few short decades, the South Asian nation has transformed itself from one of the world’s poorest nations, to an economic powerhouse.

Much of that success can be attributed to the robust manufacturing sector. But the Bangladeshi economic miracle has come at a huge cost to its garment workers. In 2013, a garment factory collapsed in the capital Dhaka, killing more than 1,000 people.

Since then efforts have been made to address workers’ rights and safety concerns.

Women’s rights have also come under the spotlight, after a schoolgirl was burned to death for filing a sexual harassment complaint against the school’s principal.

Sixteen people were charged with the brutal murder, that sent shock waves across the country.

To discuss all of this:

  • Fahmida Khatun is the Executive Director at the Center for Policy Dialogue.
  • Tania Rashid is a special correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and a lecturer at Stony Brook University School of Journalism.
  • Sadanand Dhume is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
  • Dina Siddiqi is a clinical associate professor at New York University.

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