In a sweeping reversal of a crackdown that drew global outrage, the interim government of Bangladesh has dropped criminal charges against 48,000 garment workers arrested during 2023 wage protests.

“Victory!.. Bangladeshi Garment Workers Freed From Threat of Arrests,” labour advocacy group Clean Clothes Campaigns shared via a post on Instagram on October 23.

The cases stemmed from mass demonstrations in November 2023, which were triggered by the government’s new minimum wage announcement, which fell far below union demands of BDT 23,000 (about $196) a month.

The original prosecution was brought by factory owners and the state accusing workers of serious crimes including arson and attempted murder, in the context of demonstrating for higher pay and better labor protections. The protests under the former Hasina administration saw violent clashes that left four workers dead, dozens injured and more than 130 people arrested.

Organisations including Clean Clothes Campaign, Worker Rights Consortium, and Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity argued that the prosecutions were used as a tool of intimidation against workers to suppress union activity and collective bargaining. Labour groups also said many of the charges were filed without evidence, enabling factory owners to accuse thousands of workers, many unnamed, through a single complaint.

More than 40 international fashion brands were tied to suppliers involved in lodging the cases.

Over the two years global labour rights campaigns ramped up pressure on brands and officials, prompting early case dismissals in 2024. After the Hasina government fell in August last year, local labour union negotiations with the interim administration took momentum to drop all remaining charges.

In its Instagram post announcing the news, Clean Clothes Campaign said sustained international pressure, including brand boycotts, protests, email drives and worker testimonies amplified online, were instrumental in forcing change. The group said brand pressure alone led to the early dismissal of 10 cases, freeing more than 10,000 workers, before all remaining charges were withdrawn.

The interim government said the decision is part of a broader labour reform package, including stronger measures on workplace safety and legal protections.

Trade unions are now in talks with the government to strengthen protections for the right to organise, strike and participate in transparent wage-setting processes, steps advocates say are essential to preventing future crackdowns on the sector’s workforce.

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