By Md. Omar Faruk | Project Manager
On the occasion of International Workers’ Day (1 May 2025), Greenpeace South Asia, in collaboration with Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS), Youth4NDCs, and the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity, organized the “Saree for Solidarity: Labour Justice, Climate Justice” event at Shyamoli Park, Dhaka. The event brought together over a hundred workers, union leaders, youth activists, and environmental organizations to spotlight the deeply interconnected crises of labour exploitation and climate change.
Participants wore recycled sarees adorned with hand-painted demands for a climate-just future, symbolizing solidarity and resistance. A key highlight was the public signing of the Polluters Pay Pact, which calls for taxing fossil fuel giants, specifically oil, coal, and gas companies to finance adaptation, protection, and recovery initiatives for frontline communities. Organizers emphasized that this Pact is gaining widespread momentum across South Asia and beyond, reflecting a growing call for polluters to be held accountable for the damage they’ve caused.
The event featured impactful speeches, storytelling, and cultural performances, underscoring urgent demands for fair wages, safe working environments, and sustainable industrial practices, particularly in the industrial sector. Speakers drew attention to how women and marginalized communities bear the brunt of both labour injustices and climate disruptions.
“Saree for Solidarity” successfully created a powerful platform for intersectional advocacy, connecting global struggles for workers’ rights with the urgent climate justice movement. The event concluded with a collective pledge to champion policies that prioritize dignity, equity, and environmental sustainability for all.
By uniting voices from labour and climate fronts under the powerful symbolism of the saree, this event stood as a vibrant example of collective action and cross-movement solidarity, paving the way for just, inclusive, and sustainable change.
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
