Exhibition Captures Human Toll of Bangladesh's Industrial Disasters

The Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) has opened a powerful exhibition, “Still Standing: Industrial Disasters, Workers’ Lives and the Cost of Forgetting in Bangladesh,” at the National Art Gallery. This collection of over 100 photographs, featuring the work of The Daily Star photographers, serves as a stark reminder of the human toll exacted by two decades of devastating industrial and urban tragedies in the country. While the initial frames offer a glimpse of hope with laborers returning home, the exhibition swiftly transitions to a somber reflection on grief, loss, and the hollow stares of those left behind. The raw anguish captured in images from disasters like the Rana Plaza collapse, Nimtoli fire, and Tazreen Fashions fire is palpable. Visitors, like Nabila Morshed, a student from Jagannath University, found themselves transfixed by haunting details, such as a young woman's anklet still clinging to her foot, prompting reflections on the cheapness of human life. The exhibition doesn't shy away from the desperation and horror, as evidenced by a photograph from the FR Tower fire showing people clinging to each other amidst flames. Rajib, a fine arts student, noted the powerful depiction of the will to survive, lamenting that these lives were lost due to greed and institutional negligence. The organizers intend for this exhibition to do more than just document tragedy; it is a call for accountability, aiming to make visible the lived realities of workers and reinforce the fundamental right to a safe workplace. It seeks to spark dialogue among policymakers, factory owners, and international buyers, pushing for a more humane and sustainable working environment. This exhibition is particularly resonant in Bangladesh, where industrial safety remains a critical concern, and serves as a vital platform for remembrance and advocacy.

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Look at this. How brutal. A young woman’s anklet still hangs from her foot, with a drop of blood clinging to it. The blood on her foot almost looks like Alta (red dye). Is a human life so cheap?