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April 12, 2012

Bangladeshi Labor Activist Tortured, Murdered 
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A Bangladeshi labor activist who helped expose working conditions in the
country’s garment industry has been brutally murdered. The body of
40-year-old Aminul Islam was found outside the city of Dhaka last week,
but was initially buried because police could not identify him. Islam's
body showed signs of torture, with his hands and big toes having been
smashed. Islam was arrested two years ago and tortured by police and
intelligence services for protesting the garment industry’s low wages.
Bangladesh is a major supplier of clothing for U.S. companies, including
Walmart and H&M, and has been gaining popularity among manufacturers as
a lower-cost alternative to China. Dozens of workers have died in
factory fires in Bangladesh in recent years.



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