It's Not All About the Price Tags: A Glimpse on Bangladesh's Lifeline

With amputated limbs and no job thousands of workers have an uncertain future ahead.

Media, activists, conscious citizens and different organizations have made various efforts to reveal the exploitation and deprivation of Bangladeshi garment industry workers. The documentary "It's not all about the price tag" directed by Mohammad Mufazzal is another splendid addition to these efforts. By investigating the facts, the documentary reveals the truth behind the past and recent disasters that have threatened Bangladesh's economic lifeline.
In the beginning the documentary takes us to Savar in where we can see one of the most tragic scenes of helpless humanity - the collapse of Rana Plaza, claiming 2000+ human lives. Workers trapped inside the huge mass of ruins have died helplessly from suffocation and injuries. Live footage of the collapse and rescue activities take us to the spot of that fateful tragedy. Shocking experiences of the injured victims and voluntary rescue workers have been brought to light in this documentary.
Presenting the death toll of ten consecutive fatal garment factory disasters, it throws a question why do these incidents continue to happen? While unraveling the answer we are given stunning information from this film. The movie reveals a chain of intermediaries who draws high rate of profit from the international buyers and Bangladeshi factory owners. Thus many of the owners who have no direct contact with the buyers and have to work though these intermediaries, cut their investment by minimising worker's salary, establishment quality etc. to secure their own profit. Thus the poor garment workers are simply caught in the middle of a cycle controlled by some profit hungry businessmen.

RMG sector has emerged as the biggest earner of foreign currency for Bangladesh.

In the film, some factory owners have admitted that if they could establish direct contact with the buyers, the scenario would be much better. The role of BGMEA in this regard has also been questioned. During each and every disaster, BGMEA has been blamed for only trying to save the owners although in this film the current president of this supreme body of the garment owners completely denies the allegation. The documentary is a rich collection of interviews of people from different sectors who have expressed their concern regarding the fate of garment workers. The responsible government officials, renowned intellectuals, scholars have expressed their concern regarding the disasters and fate of the helpless garment workers.
The film also presents the international concern about the ups and downs of Bangladesh's garment industry by showing footage of international media regarding the disasters and also the progresses.  From this documentary we get to know that several garment industries of Bangladesh have achieved international recognitions for their standard. Some garment industries have improved working conditions such as providing meals and child care centres for the workers.
Bangladesh's garment industry, the lifeline of its economy has been facing many obstacles from home and abroad. This informative documentary with superb commentary by Mahmudur Rahman can be a good resource not only to know the industry better but to acknowledge the legendary resilience of the Bangladeshi people who are determined to survive despite all obstacles.  

PHOTOS: STILLS FROM "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE PRICE TAG"

The writer can be contacted at shahnawaz.khan@thedailystar.net