79-528: The 2012 Dhaka garment factory fire broke out on 24 November 2012, in the Tazreen Fashion factory in the Ashulia district on the outskirts of Dhaka , Bangladesh. At least 117 people were confirmed dead in the fire, and over 200 were injured, making it the deadliest factory fire in the nation's history. The cause of the fire was not determined. It was initially presumed to be caused by an electrical short circuit,
158-534: A caretaker government , followed by Hasina becoming prime minister after the June 1996 election . While the country began to experience economic growth and a reduction in poverty, it remained in political turmoil during her first term, which ended in July 2001 , with Hasina being succeeded by Zia following her victory. Hasina was the first Bangladeshi prime minister to serve a full five-year term since independence in 1971 . During
237-539: A constitutional referendum returning the country to a parliamentary form of government. The subsequent parliamentary general election in 1991 was won by the BNP. After several years of autocratic rule , widespread protests and strikes had paralysed the economy. Government officers refused to follow orders and resigned. Members of the Bangladesh Rifles laid down their weapons instead of firing on protestors and curfew
316-613: A " Centre-Left " party. Under martial law, Hasina was in and out of detention throughout the 1980s. In 1984, she was put under house arrest in February and again in November. In March 1985, she was put under house arrest for another three months. Hasina and the AL participated in the 1986 Bangladeshi general election held under President Hussain Muhammad Ershad . She served as the leader of
395-479: A "very extensive and costly modification" and that "it is not financially feasible for the brands to make such investments". The fire, presumably caused by exposed wires , started on the ground floor of the nine-story factory, trapping the workers on the floors above. Because of the large amount of fabric and yarn in the factory, the fire was able to quickly spread to other floors, complicating firefighting operations. The fire burned for more than seventeen hours before
474-402: A Walmart ethical sourcing official for "violations and/or conditions which were deemed to be high risk". The notice said that any factory receiving three "orange" grade assessments in a two-year time period would not receive Walmart orders for one year. The orange rating was the first the company had received, and was followed by a "yellow" medium risk rating the next August, which pertained to
553-506: A four-tier system of local government including the Gram Parishad, Zila Parishad and Upazila Parishad by passing legisation. The Hasina government liberalised the telecommunications industry, initially granting four licenses to private companies to provide cellular mobile telephone services. This resulted in the previous state monopoly being disbanded meaning prices began to reduce and access became more widespread. The government established
632-509: A fourth and fifth term after the 2018 and 2024 elections , which was marred by violence and widely criticised as being fraudulent. Her second premiership (2009–2024) was marked by economic mismanagement and rampant corruption, leading to rising foreign debt, increasing inflation, youth unemployment and banking irregularities. An estimated US$ 150 billion or Tk 17.6 lakh crore was syphoned out of Bangladesh by illegal means during this period. In 2022, anti-government protests broke out demanding
711-502: A general majority, and Hasina's Awami League emerged as the largest opposition party. Of the three constituencies Hasina contested, she lost in two and won in one. Accepting defeat, she offered her resignation as the party president but stayed on at the request of party leaders. Politics in Bangladesh took a decisive turn in 1994, after a by-election in Magura-2 , held after the death of
790-524: A large crack spotted on one of the outer walls. After the accident, the owner of the building was arrested for not possessing adequate safety permits when constructing Rana Plaza, and the clothing factory managers were detained for making their employees come to work in an unsafe environment. Ashulia Ashulia is a suburban area near Dhaka , the capital city of Bangladesh . Nearby areas are Savar , Savar DOHS , and Tongi . The attractive view of Ashulia lake and vast paddy fields of Ashulia makes it
869-706: A number of casualties, vandalisms, lootings as well as soaring prices of daily commodities. In May 2007, the Police filed chargesheet against 19 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates for vandalising, setting fire to and looting the office of the Islamic Social Welfare Council but all of them were acquitted in court in June 2011. The months preceding the planned 22 January 2007 elections were filled with political unrest and controversy. Following
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#1732869328183948-613: A pact. The pact holds them accountable to invest in factory inspections and upgrades and personally oversee the inspections of 600 of Bangladesh's clothing factories. Over 100 European brands have agreed to maintain their contracts with Bangladesh's factories and to pay a share of the upgrade and maintenance costs for a two-year period while overseeing the inspection of approximately 1,600 clothing factories. The National Government of Bangladesh pledged to inspect 1,200 more factories, which means that well over half of Bangladesh's 5,000 clothing factories will be inspected with these new regulations in
1027-434: A popular tourist spot. Two major theme parks of Bangladesh namely Fantasy Kingdom and Nandan Park are also located at Ashulia. A thana (political subdivision) under Dhaka district has been established here in the recent years. Environmentalists and some non-governmental organizations in Bangladesh have expressed concern over rapid urbanization of Ashulia specially in the context of ongoing real estate development projects in
1106-465: A power plant. Farooq said that he paid Hasina for approving his project. On 18 April 2007, the Government barred Hasina from returning, stating that she had made provocative statements and that her return could cause disorder. This was described as a temporary measure. The Caretaker Government had also been trying to get Khaleda Zia to leave the country. Hasina vowed to return home, and on 22 April 2007,
1185-513: A special court along with two of her relatives, her sister Sheikh Rehana and her cousin Sheikh Selim . On 6 February, the High Court stopped the trial, ruling that she could not be prosecuted under emergency laws for crimes alleged to have been committed prior to the imposition of the state of emergency. On 11 June 2008, Hasina was released on parole for medical reasons. The next day she flew to
1264-416: A special court gave verdicts in two cases filed over the incident; the court ruled that it was a well-orchestrated plan, executed through abuse of state power, and all the accused, including BNP Senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman ( in absentia ) and former top intelligence officials, were found guilty. The court prescribed various punishments. SAMS Kibria , Hasina's close advisor and former finance minister
1343-534: A warrant was issued for her arrest for murder. Describing the case against her as "totally false and fake", Hasina said that she wanted to defend herself against the charges in court. On 23 April 2007, the arrest warrant was suspended, and on 25 April 2007, the ban on Hasina's entry was dropped. After spending 51 days in the United States and the United Kingdom, on 7 May 2007 Hasina returned to Dhaka , where she
1422-550: Is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. She is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , the first president of Bangladesh . She served in the position of prime minister for over 20 years, making her the longest-serving prime minister in history of Bangladesh . Thus, she became the world's longest-serving female head of government . Her authoritarian regime ended in self-imposed exile following an uprising in 2024. As
1501-406: Is the first time in Bangladesh that a factory owner has been formally charged in response to the deaths of workers. Saydia Gulrukh, an academic who has worked to bring Hossain to court, stated that "International pressure definitely influenced [the case]"; with the evolving attitudes towards workers' rights pushing the case into the global spotlight. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated her shock at
1580-532: Is widely considered that Bangladesh experienced democratic backsliding under her premiership. Human Rights Watch documented widespread enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings under her government. Numerous politicians and journalists were systematically and judicially punished for challenging her views. In 2021, Reporters Without Borders gave a negative assessment of Hasina's media policy for curbing press freedom in Bangladesh since 2014. Hasina has been criticised as being too close to India, often at
1659-524: The 2001 general election , despite winning 40% of the popular vote (slightly less than BNP's 41%), the AL won just 62 seats in parliament as a result of the first past-the-post electoral system, while the 'Four Party Alliance' led by BNP won 234 seats, giving them a two-thirds majority in parliament. Hasina herself ran in three constituencies, and was defeated in a constituency in Rangpur , which included her husband's hometown, but won in two other seats. Hasina and
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#17328693281831738-494: The 2006–2008 political crisis , Hasina was detained on extortion charges. After her release from jail, she won the 2008 election . In 2014 , she was re-elected for a third term in an election that was boycotted by the BNP and criticised by international observers. In 2017, after nearly a million Rohingya entered the country, fleeing genocide in Myanmar , Hasina received credit and praise for giving them refuge and assistance. She won
1817-529: The Anti-Corruption Commission sent notices to both Hasina and Khaleda Zia, instructing them to provide details of their assets within one week. Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed was out of the country and said he would try to organise a worldwide protest. These arrests of the political leaders were widely seen as a move by the military-backed interim government to force Hasina and Zia out of the country and into political exile. United Kingdom MPs condemned
1896-755: The Azimpur Girls' School and Begum Badrunnesa Girls' College . She enrolled for a bachelor's degree at Eden College . She was elected as the Vice President of the Students Union in Eden College between 1966 and 1967. In 1967, she married M. A. Wazed Miah , who was a Bengali nuclear scientist with a doctorate in physics from Durham . Hasina studied Bengali literature at Dhaka University , from where she graduated in 1973. Hasina lived in Rokeya Hall, which
1975-606: The Bangabandhu Bridge mega project in 1998. In 1999, the government started the New Industrial Policy (NIP) which aimed to strengthen the private sector and encourage growth. The Hasina government implemented some reforms to different sectors of the economy, which resulted in the country attaining an average of 5.5% GDP growth. The consumer price index remained at 5%, lower than other developing states who experienced 10% inflation. The Fifth Five-Year Plan (1997–2002) of
2054-828: The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to regulate the newly liberalised telecommunications industry. The government established the National Policy for Women's Advancement which sought to ensure equality between men and women. The policy aimed to guarantee security and employment, create an educated and skilled workforce, eliminate discrimination and repression against women, establish human rights and end poverty and ensure participation in socio-economic development. The government introduced three reserved seats for women in all Union Parishad election in December 1997. Hasina's cabinet approved
2133-583: The Bengali Muslim Sheikh family of Tungipara in East Bengal . Her father was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her mother was Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib . Hasina grew up in Tungipara during her early childhood under the care of her mother and grandmother. When the family moved to Dhaka, they initially lived in the neighborhood of Segunbagicha . When Hasina's father became a government minister in 1954,
2212-824: The Generalized System of Preferences . In November 2013, three safety regulation groups, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh , the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and the National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety and Structural Integrity in the garment Sector of Bangladesh (NTPA), agreed to look into adopting a new unified set of workplace safety standards for clothing manufacturing factories. The new standards would call for increased training of factory inspectors. The inspections would be carried out by two different inspectors with their experience in
2291-680: The US Marines , Dutch company C&A , the American company Walmart and Hong Kong-based Li & Fung . The factory is part of the Tuba Group which is a major exporter of garments from Bangladesh to the U.S., Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. Its major clients include Walmart, Carrefour and IKEA . According to Tazreen Fashions' web site, the factory was flagged in May 2011 with an "orange" grade by
2370-617: The United Front Ministry was elected in 1954, and we were living in No 3 Minto Road, one day, my mother told us that father had been arrested the night before. Then we used to visit him in jail and we always realised that he was put in jail so often because he loved the people." Hasina and her siblings had very little time to spend with their father because of his preoccupation with politics. Hasina attended primary school in her village of Tungipara . When her family moved to Dhaka, she attended
2449-520: The assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . Dictator Hasina, Wazed and Rehana were visiting Europe at the time of the assassination. They took refuge in the house of the Bangladeshi ambassador to West Germany ; before taking up an offer of political asylum from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India. The surviving members of the family lived in exile in New Delhi, India for six years. Dictator Hasina
2012 Dhaka garment factory fire - Misplaced Pages Continue
2528-417: The parliamentary opposition in 1986–1987. She led an eight-party alliance as opposition against Ershad. Hasina's decision to take part in the election had been criticised by her opponents, since the election was held under martial law , and the other main opposition group boycotted the poll. However, her supporters maintained that she used the platform effectively to challenge Ershad's rule. Ershad dissolved
2607-452: The AL rejected the results, claiming that the election was rigged with the assistance of the president and the caretaker government. The international community was largely satisfied with the elections, and the 'Four Party Alliance' went on to form a government. The Awami League MPs were irregular in attending parliament during the following period. In late 2003, the Awami League started its first major anti-government movement, culminating in
2686-530: The BNP could resolve the issue by acceding to their demands. In late 1995, the members of parliament of the AL and other parties resigned en masse. Parliament completed its five-year term and the February 1996 general election was held. The election was boycotted by all major parties except the ruling BNP, who won all the seats in the parliament as a result. Hasina described the election as a farce. The new parliament, composed almost entirely of BNP members, amended
2765-1170: The National Plan of Action for Children in 1999 to ensure rights and improved upbringing. Hasina attended the World Micro Credit summit in Washington DC; the World Food Summit in Rome; the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in India; the OIC summit in Pakistan; the 9th SAARC summit in the Maldives; the first D-8 summit in Turkey; the 5th World Conference for the Aged in Germany; the Commonwealth summit in
2844-454: The Tazreen factory. According to The New York Times , Walmart played a significant role in blocking reforms to have retailers pay more for apparel in order to help Bangladesh factories improve their safety standards. Walmart director of ethical sourcing Sridevi Kalavakolanu asserted that the company would not agree to pay the higher cost, as such improvements in electrical and fire safety would be
2923-623: The UK and the OIC summit in Iran. Hasina also visited the United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. Bangladesh joined two multilateral bodies, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8). She became the first Bangladeshi prime minister since independence to complete an entire five-year term. In
3002-558: The area. The most affected city around Dhaka is now Ashulia. Most of Ashulia is now owned by the garment factory or land developers. In recent years, it has lost most of its farmland because of the bricks field business. 23°53′50″N 90°19′51″E / 23.897313°N 90.330770°E / 23.897313; 90.330770 This Dhaka Division location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sheikh Hasina Elections Ministries [REDACTED] Sheikh Hasina (born 28 September 1947)
3081-589: The arrest. On 11 April 2007, the police filed murder charges against Hasina, alleging that she masterminded the killing in October 2006 of four supporters of a rival political party. The four alleged victims were beaten to death during clashes between the AL and rival party activists. Hasina was visiting the United States at the time. On 30 July 2007, the High Court suspended Hasina's extortion trial and ordered her release on bail. On 2 September 2007, an additional case
3160-512: The autocratic regime of Hussain Muhammad Ershad came to an end, Hasina, then leader of the Bangladesh Awami League , lost the 1991 election to Khaleda Zia , with whom she had collaborated against Ershad. As leader of the opposition, Hasina accused Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of electoral dishonesty and boycotted Parliament , which was followed by violent demonstrations and political turmoil. Zia resigned in favour of
3239-400: The building's three staircases, all three led through the ground floor, making them extremely dangerous and unusable in the case of a ground floor fire. That left many workers trapped and unable to get safely out of the course of the fire. A crowd made up of thousands of relatives and onlookers gathered at the scene, causing Bangladesh Army soldiers to be deployed to maintain order. Most of
2012 Dhaka garment factory fire - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-440: The burns, which left families with no choice except to wait for DNA test results that could take up to six months. Investigators found that the fire safety certificate had expired in June 2012. Three supervisors from the factory were arrested on 28 November on charges of criminal negligence. Police accused them of padlocking exits and preventing workers from leaving the building. According to survivor Mohammad Ripu, who jumped off of
3397-468: The cause of 80% of factory fires in Bangladesh. A widely criticized government report alleged an act of "sabotage", without identifying who committed it or why. This fire and others similar to it have led to numerous proposed reforms in workers' rights and safety laws in Bangladesh. When it opened in 2009, the Tazreen Fashion factory employed 1,630 workers and produced T-shirts , polo shirts and jackets for various companies and organizations. These included
3476-444: The claim. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association offered compensation of $ 1,250 to each of the dead victim's families, which is approximately two years' pay for the average factory worker. Tazreen Factory owner Delwar Hossain stated that the premises had not been unsafe, adding, "It is a huge loss for my staff and my factory. This is the first time we have ever had a fire at one of my seven factories" In addition,
3555-411: The constitution to create provisions for a caretaker government (CTG). The June 1996 general election was held under a neutral caretaker government headed by retired Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman . The AL won 146 seats, a plurality, but fell short of a simple majority . Khaleda Zia, leader of the BNP who won 104 seats, denounced the results and alleged vote rigging . This was in contrast with
3634-430: The cost of Bangladesh's sovereignty. She is seen as a manifestation of India's interference in Bangladeshi politics, which the critics described as the main source of Hasina's power. Hasina was among Time 's 100 most influential people in the world in 2018, and was listed as being one of the 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2015, 2018, and 2022. Hasina was born on 28 September 1947 to
3713-539: The death toll and called for thorough search-and-rescue operations. She also stated her suspicion that the fire had been arson and an act of "sabotage." Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir also alleged that arsonists were responsible, citing fires at other clothing factories, including one incident where employees were filmed on CCTV attempting to set fire to stockpiled cotton. However, the Home Minister later discounted
3792-516: The declaration by party general secretary Abdul Jolil that the government would fall before 30 April 2004. During her second term as leader of the opposition, political unrest and violence increased. MP Ahsanullah Master died after he was shot in May 2004. This was followed by a grenade attack on 21 August on an Awami League gathering in Dhaka, resulting in the death of 24 party supporters, including Ivy Rahman , party women's secretary. In October 2018,
3871-554: The donation to set up an Environmental, Health and Safety Academy in Bangladesh. Scott Nova, executive director of Worker Rights Consortium , said the donation is too little to make the industry safe, particularly because many factories do not even have basic safety features such as fire escapes. On 15 May 2013, companies whose clothing was manufactured at the Tazreen Design Ltd. factory met in Geneva to discuss compensation payments for
3950-461: The end of Khaleda Zia's government in October 2006, there were protests and strikes, during which 40 people were killed in the following month, over uncertainty about who would head the Caretaker Government . The caretaker government had difficulty bringing all parties to the table. The AL and its allies protested and alleged that the caretaker government favoured the BNP. The interim period
4029-468: The equipment inside since the protests had become chaotic with stone throwing and smashing of vehicles. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association announced plans to expel 850 factories from its membership due to noncompliance with safety and labor standards. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have also urged the U.S. Trade Representative's office to complete its review of Bangladesh's compliance with eligibility requirements for
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#17328693281834108-607: The factory where the fire occurred. On 25 November, a Walmart spokesman said he was "so far unable to confirm that Tazreen is a supplier to Walmart nor if the document referenced in the article is in fact from Walmart"; the company subsequently terminated its relationship with Tazreen, stating that "The Tazreen factory [in Ashulia ] was not authorized to produce merchandise for Walmart. A supplier subcontracted work to this factory without authorization and in direct violation of our policies." Documents found via email show that Walmart had subcontracted multiple clothing production orders through
4187-602: The family lived on 3 Minto Road. In the 1950s, her father also worked in the Alpha Insurance Company, aside from his political activities. In the 1960s, the family moved into a home built by her father on Road 32 in Dhanmondi . In many interviews and speeches, Hasina talked about growing up while her father was held as a political prisoner by the Pakistani government. In one interview, she remarked that "For instance, after
4266-430: The field each being a minimum of five years and combining for a minimum total of 20 years. They would also regulate the spacing of exits making sure that there are ways to escape the building from multiple sides and the amount of machinery on each floor will have a cap allowing easy access to each exit. As a move to increase factory and worker well-being, over 24 U.S. companies initiated by Wal-Mart and Gap Inc. have signed
4345-402: The firefighters extinguished it. Some workers who had escaped to the roof of the building were rescued. The fire department's operations manager, Mohammad Mahbub, stated that the factory lacked the adequate emergency exits that would have made it possible to escape from the building, especially since the fire broke out in the warehouse on the ground floor and quickly moved up to higher floors. Of
4424-483: The government and all but four sectors of the economy were opened up to the private sector. Attempts were made to create a social security system to protect the most vulnerable in society. The Hasina administration introduced an allowance scheme which resulted in 400,000 elderly people receiving monthly allowances. This scheme was later extended to widows, distressed and deserted women. A national foundation devoted to rehabilitation and training of people, with disabilities
4503-533: The government declared 27 November 2012 a national day of mourning with the country flag flying at half-mast to honor the victims. On 27 November, Walmart America ended its relationship with the Tuba company, which Walmart stated had been contracted by a supplier without its knowledge. The corporation also said that it would be working with suppliers to improve fire safety. Walmart also said it would donate US$ 1,600,000 to Institute for Sustainable Communities , which would use
4582-488: The government placed an emphasis on poverty alleviation programmes which provided credit and training to unemployed youths and women. Food-grain production increased from 19 million tons to 26.5 million tons while the poverty rate reduced. A Housing Fund was established to provide fiscal assistance to those homeless as a result of river erosion. The government launched the Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar scheme which accentuated
4661-714: The incomes of the poorer segments of society through household farming. The Hasina government adopted the New Industrial Policy in 1999 which aimed to bolster the private sector and attract foreign direct investment, thus expediating the globalisation process. The NIP aimed for 25% of the economy to be industry based with 20% of the country's workforce employed in industry. It encouraged the institution of small, cottage and labour-intensive industries with an onus on skill development for women for employment, development of indigenous technology and industries based on local raw materials. The NIP allowed for foreign investors to own 100% equity in Bangladeshi enterprises without prior approval from
4740-608: The last day possible. They demanded that a voters' roll be published. Later in the month, President Iajuddin Ahmed was compelled to declare a state of emergency . Consequently, Lt General Moeen Uddin Ahmed took control of the government. Political activity was prohibited. Fakhruddin Ahmed became the chief advisor with the support of the Bangladesh Army. Hasina went to the United States embassy on 14 March 2007 along with Kazi Zafarullah and Tareq Ahmed Siddique . She would fly
4819-465: The member of parliament for that constituency, a member of Hasina's party. The Awami League had expected to win back the seat, but the BNP candidate won through rigging and manipulation, according to the neutral parties who witnessed the election. Hasina led the Bangladesh Awami League in boycotting the parliament from 1994. The Awami League (AL), with other opposition parties, demanded that
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#17328693281834898-403: The near future. On 8 May 2013, a fire swept through another garment factory in Dhaka, killing at least seven people. On 24 April 2013, Rana Plaza , an eight-story building in the suburb of Savar which housed multiple clothing manufacturing companies along with a bank and some apartments, collapsed killing over 1,100 workers and injuring 2,000 more. The building was evacuated days earlier due to
4977-529: The neutral observers who said that the election was free and fair. Hasina served her first term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001. She signed the 30-year water-sharing treaty with India governing the Ganges . Her administration repealed the Indemnity Act , which granted immunity from prosecution to the killers of Sheikh Mujib. Her government opened-up the telecommunications industry to
5056-463: The next day to the United States accompanied by Tareq Ahmed Siddique and Abdus Sobhan Golap . She visited her son and daughter who live in the United States. She then moved to the United Kingdom. In April 2007, Hasina was charged with graft and extortion by the military-backed caretaker government during the 2006–2008 political crisis . She was accused of having forced businessman Tajul Islam Farooq to pay bribes in 1998 before his company could build
5135-405: The next general elections be held under a neutral caretaker government, and that provision for caretaker governments to manage elections be incorporated in the constitution. The ruling BNP refused to act on these demands. Opposition parties launched an unprecedented campaign, calling strikes for weeks on end. The Government accused them of destroying the economy while the opposition countered that
5214-642: The parliament in December 1987 when Hasina and her Awami League resigned in an attempt to call for a fresh general election to be held under a neutral government. During November and December in 1987, a mass uprising happened in Dhaka and several people were killed, including Noor Hossain , an Awami League activist and supporter of Hasina. Her party, along with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under Khaleda Zia , continued to work to restore democratically elected government , which they achieved after
5293-669: The private sector, which until then was limited to government-owned companies. In December 1997, Hasina's administration signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord , ending the insurgency in the Chittagong Division for which Hasina won the UNESCO Peace Prize. Her government established the Ashrayan-1 Project while bilateral relations with neighbouring states improved. Hasina's government completed
5372-496: The resignation of Hasina. In June 2024, fresh student protests erupted throughout the country, demanding the reform of quotas in government jobs . The protests were met with brutal crackdown by law-enforcement agencies and paramilitary forces, resulting in the massacre of students . By August, the protests intensified into a mass uprising against the government, which eventually culminated in Hasina resigning and fleeing to India. It
5451-418: The second floor, the factory manager told them "The fire alarm had just gone out of order. Go back to work." In December 2013, 13 months after the fire, Bangladesh police filed a warrant for the arrest of Delwar Hossain, the owner and managing director of Tazreen Fashions Ltd. Fourteen months after the fire, Hossain was charged with the death by negligence of the victims, and he is awaiting trial in prison. This
5530-421: The victims of the fire; Walmart and Sears declined to send representatives to the meeting for unknown reasons. Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers protested at the site of the fire, calling for better workplace safety. The protests continued for three days and blocked a major highway. Two hundred factories closed their doors during the protest to pay respect to the victims. The factory owners wanted to protect
5609-414: The victims were found on the second floor, where at least 69 bodies were recovered. Witnesses reported that many workers had been unable to escape through the narrow exits of the building. Twelve of the victims died leaping from windows to escape the flames, some of whom would die of other injuries after they had been taken to area hospitals. Many of the victims were unrecognizable because of the severity of
5688-750: Was assassinated that year (2004) in a grenade attack in Sylhet . In June 2005, A. B. M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury , the incumbent AL Mayor , won an important election in Chittagong , the second-largest city in Bangladesh. This election was seen as a showdown between the opposition and the ruling party. In October 2006, Sheikh Hasina and Awami League launched the Logi Boitha Movement where thousands of Awami League workers started occupying different streets of Dhaka with boathooks and Oars for several days. This resulted in
5767-518: Was barred from entering Bangladesh by the military government of Ziaur Rahman . After she was elected President of the Bangladesh Awami League on 16 February 1981, Hasina returned home on 17 May 1981 and received a welcome from thousands of Awami League supporters. While living in exile in India, Hasina was elected President of the Awami League in 1981. The party has been described as
5846-489: Was filed against Hasina by the Anti-Corruption Commission regarding the awarding of a contract for the construction of a power plant in 1997, for which she allegedly took a bribe of 30 million takas and kept the contract from going to the lowest bidder. Six others were also accused of involvement. A graft case was filed against Zia on the same day. On 13 January 2008, Hasina was indicted on extortion charges by
5925-470: Was founded in 1938 as the women's dormitory of Dhaka University ; and later named after feminist Begum Rokeya . She was involved in the politics of the Students League and was elected as the general secretary of the women's unit in Rokeya Hall. Except for her husband, children and sister Sheikh Rehana , Hasina's entire family was murdered during the 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état which saw
6004-531: Was founded with an initial grant of ৳100 million funded by the government. The Ashrayan-1 Project provided shelter and employment to the homeless. Hasina was the first prime minister to engage in a "Prime Minister's Question-Answer Time" in the Jatiya Sangsad . The Jatiya Sangsad repealed the Indemnity Act, allowing for the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to be prosecuted. The government introduced
6083-488: Was greeted by a crowd of several thousand. She told reporters that the government should not have delayed her return. On 16 July 2007, Hasina was arrested by police at her home and taken before a local court in Dhaka. She was accused of extortion and denied bail and was held in a building converted into jail on the premises of the National Parliament. The AL said the arrest was politically motivated. On 17 July 2007,
6162-550: Was marred with violence and strikes. Presidential Advisor Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury negotiated with Hasina and Khaleda Zia and brought all the parties to the planned 22 January 2007 parliamentary elections. Later the nomination of Ershad was cancelled by the returning officer of the Election Commission as Ershad had been convicted on a corruption case. As a result, the Grand Alliance withdrew its candidates en masse on
6241-535: Was openly violated. Hasina worked with Khaleda Zia in organising opposition to Ershad. A huge mass protest in December 1990 ousted Ershad from power when he resigned in favour of his vice president, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed , the Chief Justice of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. The caretaker government , headed by Ahmed, administered a general election for the parliament. The BNP, led by Khaleda Zia, won
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