Remembering Rana Plaza: Politics on South Asia's Factory Floor

Ten years on, in remembering the 1,134 individuals whose lives were taken at Rana Plaza, and thousands others left devastated, this Jamhoor special issue (in collaboration with guest editor Mihika Chatterjee) takes a closer look at the aftermath of the tragedy, examining its political resonances within and beyond Bangladesh. We ask how the industry has changed, particularly if the celebrated legal and policy shifts at the national and international levels have led to real improvements for workers on the ground. We also examine whether the disaster, or subsequent calls for reform, enlarged political spaces for workers’ struggles against exploitation. At a broader level, our issue dissects what the 21st century textile and garments industry looks like across South Asia (and its diasporas), and the possibilities of emancipatory struggle and solidarity it offers today.