The Price of Our Clothes
Poetry Packet
Alison Morse The poems in this packet are a resource for anyone interested in promoting understanding and desire to act in solidarity with the people who make our clothes. They’re inspired by my family history and historic events.
Soon after my Jewish grandmother fled the Russian Empire as a tween and arrived in NYC in the early part of the 20th century, she found a job in a Manhattan knitting mill, emulating her three older sisters, sewing operators in Manhattan garment factories. My relatives joined the apparel business at a time when the industry was one of the only occupations open to poor, young, immigrant women. They worked long hours for little pay in dangerous conditions. This was the era of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in NYC, an accidental blaze that killed 146 garment workers— mostly young, immigrant women—and spurred a national movement to improve the lives of American factory workers.
I immediately thought of the Triangle fire when Rana Plaza collapsed in Bangladesh in 2013, killing 1,134 garment makers. Many of the people killed were poor young women who’d been eking out a living for the first time—like my grandma and her sisters. How could the industry have changed so little in 100 years? I published a poem about this question, which led to a research trip to Bangladesh, during which, I interviewed a number of survivors of Rana Plaza, labor rights activists and lawyers, and women who sewed in Bangladeshi factories. The garment makers I met asked me to tell their stories. I did, in a growing poetry collection, The Price of Our Clothes, first published as a limited- edition chapbook (Perlman Museum) for a multi-media exhibition created with a visual artist. Poems have also been published in journals and magazines, and have been used in classroom presentations. Here are a few questions to explore after reading the five poems:
1. Try reading the poems out loud. How did it feel to read these poems? How did it feel to read the names in “What was Left” and “Kafan”? 2. How has the apparel industry changed in the 100 years between 1911 and 2013 as portrayed in “Blanck and Harris, Shirtwaist Kings” and “The Plight of Bazlus Samad Adnan”? 3. What happened after the 1911 Triangle fire to prevent accidents like this from happening again in the U.S.? Have accidents like this happened since? Where? 4. What happened after the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse to prevent accidents like this from happening again in Bangladesh? Elsewhere? 5. Why is knowing about the history of the Triangle fire and the Rana Plaza collapse important to people interested in working in the fashion industry?
If you’re inclined to write in a more associative, speculative way, possibly in story or poem form, here are some writing prompts:
1. Look at the labels on the clothes you’re wearing today to find out where they were made. Imagine what you might ask the people who made your clothes. What might they ask you? What is their day like in relation to yours? 2. Are you a descendant of garment workers? If so, what was the workday like for your ancestor? How has your ancestor’s work affected your relationship to clothes? 3. What might happen if you visited the C.E.O. of a major apparel brand and asked questions about the treatment of garment makers in the factories making clothes for this brand? Imagine finding out about the C.E.O.’s background and ethics during the conversation. 4. Write an elegy for garment workers who died during the pandemic. On March 25th, 1911, a fire destroyed Triangle Shirtwaist, a garment factory on floors 8, 9, and 10 of the Asch building in New York City, U.S.A. The fire caused the death of 146 garment workers.
On April 24th, 2013, Rana Plaza, an eight story building in the Upazila of Savar, Dhaka District, Bangladesh, collapsed. Inside the building were five garment factories that made clothes for the world's biggest brands. The collapse killed between 1,134 and 1,175 garment workers.
Sisters Read the 1920 census, see my grandmother's name and the names of her sisters squeezed into rows and columns recording their lives after they left Vishnevskaya. Not recorded: how Jewish sisters who spoke only Yiddish stuffed themselves into steerage with cargo and 1,721 fellow passengers,
stumbled down the crowded gang-plank onto Ellis Island, followed their father and brothers to the Kaplan apartment where they crammed themselves to breathe in into windowless, motherless, Brooklyn's soot three rooms and one and coal ash, down-the-hall- powdered cement, split-between- sawdust, horse families bathroom manure, car exhaust; breathe out English. Recorded: Alien; Single. Omitted: no education after age eleven. Recorded under Occupation,1920, the sisters are Wage Workers. Minnie assembled dress-shop dresses; Ida sewed shirts for a men's shirt factory; in a waist-shop, Dora made blouses called shirtwaists; Lilly, my grandma, Not recorded: kept the books before 1920, at a knitting mill. the New York sweatshops and mills where these sisters worked: over-packed, no sprinklers, worksites as lacking lack of open fire doors, lack as Triangle of a powerful union — Shirtwaist factory in Manhattan, 1911, where pairs of sisters, Rosie and Sarah, Rosaria and Lucia, Sara and Tessie were caught sewing cuffs and sleeves in the seven rows of forty machines on the ninth story when a lit cigarette turned cotton and linen scraps on the floor into locomoting flames and smoke. Scorched and smothered, they screamed, Aiutami, Helf mikh, Help me, names of loved ones, groped for the only elevator, soon- to-break fire escape, locked door, ninth floor windows.
Not recorded: new workplace laws written with ashes of sisters, ashes of 140 co-workers, ashes held in the pockets of Ida, Minnie, Dora, Lilly, me, and possibly you.
Blanck and Harris, Shirtwaist Kings
"Achieve! Achieve!” —Andrew Carnegie
Our immigrant hands know how to cut, sew, fold, manipulate this Golden Land. Not bad for two Manhattanites, Russian Jews once empty-palmed as any other Pig Market greenhorn rooting for a needle-trade job. Our knuckles, too, oozed sweatshop stink until we grabbed the shirt-making market, climbed its laissez-faire ladder to chauffeured cars, servants, mansions on the Hudson, multiple factories. Now employees, relatives, bow: Pardon me, Mr. Harris; good morning, Mr. Blanck.
Our pinnacle factory? Triangle. Three lofty floors atop seven stories. All ten command the corner of Green and Washington Place with bones of steel armored in fireproof clay. One of Manhattan's new commercial fortresses — only a block from swank Washington Square. No sooty sweatshop inside a six-foot, pig-pen apartment. Each floor's hundreds of sewing machines are driven by a single electric motor and over a thousand female fingers assembling shirtwaists faster and cheaper than anywhere else in New York City.
Triangle: paid eyes and ears to monitor girls whispering, let's take the oath, let's walk out, join the strike, the union, for shorter hours, no night work, wages arranged by committee; paid mouths to smile solidarity, give away nothing; paid prostitutes, pimps, police, to punch out picket line garment workers. For God's sake, those meshugenah protesting bodies block us from entering our own factory. We got these landsmen out of their sweatsh ops. Why are they so ungrateful?
What Was Left
500 sewing machines, now melted metal
5 dozen cutter's knives, 5 dozen scissors, now melted metal
1,000,000 freshwater pearl buttons, now quicklime
1,000 lbs. packing paper and boxes, now ashes
10,000 bolts cotton and linen fabric, now ashes
5,000 lbs. cotton and linen fabric scraps, now ashes
2,000 lbs. lumber made into bins, cutting tables, sewing machine tables, now charcoal
300 lbs. tissue paper, now ashes
2,000 shirtwaists, now ashes
1 shirtwaist factory worth approximately $120,000 before the fire on March 25th, 1911
1 negative bank account balance
1 insurance policy worth approximately $200,000, enough to cover losses from last year's workers' strike
2 Triangle owners: Max Blanck and Isaac Harris
5 inspectors, ignored
1 burnt door, its bolt in locked position, found at the main entrance
2 owners who swear they never locked the door
2 counts of manslaughter
1 defense lawyer, Max Steuer, former garment worker, favorite attorney for NYC politicians
2 acquitted Triangle owners, Blanck and Harris
146 dead garment workers, each considered property:
Lizzie Adler, Anna Altman, Anna Ardito , Rossie Bassino, Vincenza Bellota, Vincenzo Benenti, Essie Bernstein, Jacob Bernstein, Morris Bernstein, Gussie Bierman, Abraham Binevitz, Rosie Brenman, Sarah Brenman, Ida Brodsky, Sara Brodsky, Ada Brooks, Laura Brunetta, Josephine Cammarata, Frances Caputto, Josephine Carlisi, Albina Caruso, Josie Castello, Rose Cirrito, Anna Cohen, Antonina Colletti, Dora Dochman, Kalman Downic, Celia Eisenberg, Dora Evans, Rebecca Feibisch, Yetta Fichtenhultz, Daisy Fitze, Max Florin, Tina Frank, Rosie Freedman, Molly Gerstein, Celia Gettlin, Esther Goldstein, Lena Goldstein, Mary Goldstein, Yetta Goldstein, Irene Grameatassio, Bertha Greb, Dinah Greenberg, Rachel Grossman, Rosie Grosso, Esther Harris, Mary Herman, Esther Hochfield, Fannie Hollander, Pauline Horowitz, Ida Jakofsky, Tessie Kaplan, Becky Kappelman, Ida Kenowitz, Becky Kessler, Jacob Kline, Bertha Kuhler, Tiller Kupfersmith, Sarah Kupla, Benny Kuritz, Annie L'Abbato, Fannie Lansner, Maria Mary Laventhal, Jennie Lederman, Nettie Lefkowitz, Max Lehrer, Sam Lehrer, Kate Leone, Giuseppa Lauletti, Rosie Lemarck, Jennie Levin, Pauline Levine, Catherine Maltese, Lucia Maltese, Rosaria Maltese, Maria Manara, Bertha Manders, Rose Manofsky, Michela Marciano, Yetta Meyers, Bettina Miale, Frances Miale, Gaetana Midolo, Becky Nebrerer, Annie Nicholas, Nicolina Nicolosci, Annie Novobritsky, Sadie Nussbaum, Julia Oberstein, Rose Oringer, Becky Ostrowsky, Carrie Ozzo, Annie Pack, Concetta Prestifilippo, Providenza Panno, Antonietta Pasqualicca, Ida Pearl, Jennie Poliny, Millie Prato, Becky Reivers, Emma Rootstein, Fanny Rosen, Israel Rosen, Julia Rosen, Nebrerer, Annie Nicholas, Nicolina Nicolosci, Annie Novobritsky, Sadie Nussbaum, Julia Oberstein, Rose Oringer, Becky Ostrowsky, Carrie Ozzo, Annie Pack, Concetta Prestifilippo, Providenza Panno, Antonietta Pasqualicca, Ida Pearl, Jennie Poliny, Millie Prato, Becky Reivers, Emma Rootstein, Fanny Rosen, Israel Rosen, Julia Rosen, Louis Loeb, Yetta Rosenbaum, Jennie Rosenberg, Gussie Rosenfield, Nettie Rosenthal, Teddy Rothner, Sarah Sabasowitz, Sophie Salemi, Sara Saracino, Tessie Saracino, Gussie Schiffman, Rose Schmidt, Ethel Schneider, Violet Schochep, Margaret Schwartz, Jacob Selzer, Annie Semmilio, Rosie Shapiro, Ben Sklaver, Rosie Sorkin, Gussie Spunt, Annie Starr, Jennie Stellino, Jennie Stern, Jennie Stiglitz, Samuel Tabick, Clotilde Terdanova, Isabella Tortorella, Mary Ullo, Meyer Utal, Freda Velakowsky, Bessie Vivianio, Rose Weiner, Sally Weintraub, Dora Welfowitz, Joseph Wilson, Tessie Wisner, Sonia Wisotsky, Bertha Wondross
400 dollars collected by Blanck and Harris from their insurance for each dead worker (property lost), $68,400 total
Kāphana
Each white, cotton kāphana held remains: arms; a shin; half a torso too anonymous for a spouse, parents, children to claim; fragments ripped from garment workers found amidst hundreds of tons of rubble
— all that remains of Rana Plaza, eight-story building with five garment factories, huge cracks. Police ordered evacuation. A day later, factory managers ordered workers inside. The building collapsed, entirely.
When the first white bundles of Rana Plaza's unidentified dead were brought to freshly dug graves in Dhaka’s public cemetery,
Reuters snapped pictures and crowds gathered to watch. The kāphana held no discernible faces to be directed toward Mecca.
Since then, they've turned into dirt that feeds grass in the public cemetery, as have the more than one hundred thirty still unnamed dead of Rana Plaza, whose DNA numbers, nailed to sticks, lie on the ground trampled by playing children.
Their restless silence lies between the bodies of
Abdus Salam, Afzal Hossain Joy, Ak lima Begum, Alpona, Ariful Islam, Arifur Rahman, Belal Hossain, Bhagi Rani Das, China Akhter, Ekhlas, Faisal, Jamuna Rani, Josna, Kabir Molla, Khohon, Kohinur Islam, Lal Mia, Lata Yasmin, Lima Akter, Abdur Razzak Khan, Babul Hossain, Basu Mia, Mizanur Hossain, Saiful Islam, Shahajahan, Mohammad Shaon, Mohammad Shohag, Wahed Mia, Mojammel, Monowar Hossain, Mosammat Latifa, Mosammat Sharifa, Mukta, Nipa Akter, Pabitra Rani Mandal, Pintu, Rehana Begum, Rina Akter, Robin, Rumana Afroze Nishat, Shahida Akter, Shukla Sarkar, Sonia, Sonia Akter, Surman Ali, Ujjal, Parvin Begum, Pushpo Rani, Shilpi Akhter, Shilpi Akter, Shujit Shaha, Kanchan Mala, Nurjahan Begum, Rasheda Begum, Rekha, Mohammad Kamal, Monir Hossain, Nila Akter, Rina Akter, Shaila Khatun, Shanta Akter, Sobhan, Abdur Rahman, Anwar, Asma Begum, Jakir Hossain, Josna Khatun, Monira Begum, Khodeja Begum, Rajuka Khatun, Rokeya Akter, Sabina Begum, Shahinur Akter, Shikha Rani Karmakar, Shobha Akter, Shujuar Rahman, Tanjila Akter, Liton, Jahangir Shekh, Shahidul, Taslima, Shirin Akter, Ajam Khan, Habibur Rahman, Jhuma, Munni Akter Shajeda, Fulchan Chandra Mandal, Lucky Akter Sonia, Mohammad Ishaq, Rijia Khatun, Kaiyum Begum, Milan Kumar Sarkar, Monira, Rashidul Islam, Rifat Hasan Alamgir, Robiun Islam, Shojib Shardar, Amina Khatun, Hemayet Ali Chowdury, Rafija, Aleya Begum, Mosammat Khaleda, Nargis Khanam, Alpona Kamruzzaman Babul, Mohammad Hakim, Mohammed Shahin, Morjina Akter Lima, Najrul Islam, Shefali Akter, Tanzila Akter, Bonna Akter, Sharif Hossain, Shamsun Nahar, Shomla Akter, Sokina Akter, Dipa Patro, Ijabul Mallik, Liton, Maksuda Khanom, Mala Rani Baroi, Mamunur Rahman, Nila, Parvin, Shathi, Shumon Das, Shumon Shordar, Shahinur Begum, Beauty Begum, Najma Khatun, Abdul Malek, Abu Jafar Montu, Alia Akter, Alpona Akter, Amena Akter, Ataur Molla, Bilkis Akter, Dipali Rani Das, Firoj Al-Mamun, Firoja Begum, Jaheda Akter, Johra, Josna, Josna Begum, Khandokar Selim Ahmed, Kobita Akter, Lucky Akter, Maidur Rahman, Mala, Mohammad Anwar, Din Islam, Jahid Hasan, Mohammad Jasim, Rofiqul Islam Mukul, Momena, Monowara, Monowara, Monsur Shekh, Janata Akter, Mosammat Majeda, Rekha Begum, Parvin, Parvin, Rasel, Ripon, Rita Khatun, Robiun Alam Shujon, Rojina, Rojina Akter Rubina, Saiful Islam, Salma, Selina, Selina Akter, Selina Begum, Shagorika, Shahanaj, Shahidul Islam, Shila Rani Shripra, Shilpi, Shilpi Akter, Shiuli Rani Das, Shumi Akter, Sri Riti Rani Shutradhar, Tofajjol Hossain, Akhi Akter, Jahangir Hossain, Mohammad Saidul, Hasna Begum, Roksana Begum, Shahida, Shamsun Nahar Shanta, Shirin Begum, Shumi, Fatema Akter, Rehena Begum, Asadul, Rasel Hossain, Mosammat Shilpi, Moyna, Shamim, Shila, Shimu Begum, Shumi Akter, Mir Hossain Miraj, Shapan Sharkar, Fatema, Rejaul Karim Rajib, Iftekhar Hossain Shahin, Rina Akter, Akram Hossain, Anju Begum, Antara, Babul Bishwash, Chompa, Chumki, Fazle Rabbi, Harun Ar Rashid, Hashi Khatun, Johirul, Keya Akter, Khaleda, Khushi, Laboni, Lipi Akter, Lipi Begum, Lovely, Lucky, Mahfuza, Mala Akter, Milon Sikdar, Liton Shekh, Monjur Elahi, Rohidul Islam, Momtaj Begum, Momtaj Begum, Monowara Begum, Morjina Begum, Parvin Begum, Rehena Aktar, Moyna Akter, Murad Shekh, Najma Begum, Nasima Akter, Nilufar Yasmin, Poly, Raju Ahmed, Rehena, Rehena Begum, Rohima, Rubel Bishwash, Rujina Begum, Shajahan Ali, Shirin Akter, Zahid Molla, Asha, Jesmin, Rehena, Riajul Islam, Salma, Taslima Khatun, Urmi Begum, Reshma Begum, Shima Khatun, Asma Begum, Erina Begum, Roushan Akter, Rasheda, Sajeda Akter Shathi, Abu Taleb, Habirunnesa, Masuda Akter, Robiul Islam, Rehana Begum, Ria, Sinara, Sohel, Jhorna, Rojina Akter, Shejda Begum, Shurjo Banu, Lipi Akter, Maya Begum, Shahida Begum, Abul Fajal Khan, Alo, Ashique, Bobita Rani Das, Doyeli, Hanif Khan, Jahanara, Johurul Islam, Kajli Rani, Kobir Hossain, Abdul Hai, Abdul Malek, Kamal Hossain, Momtaj, Nargis, Nittya Khatun, Omor Faruque, Rayhan, Ripon Bapari, Romisa, Shahin, Shahnaj Begum, Shapan Bapari, Sohel Rana, Suriya Begum, Nasima Akter, Parvin Begum, Shohima, Shathi Akter, Jorina, Babu Mia, Shumi Begum, Asma Khatun, Halima, Jakir Hossain Pathan, Kalpona Begum, Khokon Mia, Mohammad Anis, Anisur Rahman, Rasheduzzaman, Shahidullah, Mosammat Salma, Mosammat Sharmin, Shefali Begum, Sultana Begum, Moynal Haque, Rafiqul, Rohima, Sabina Yasmin, Shahida, Shanta, Sharmin, Bithi, Helena Khatun, Kamrul Hasan, Nargis, Abiya Begum, Billal Hossain, Mohammad Shahin, Mosammat Rita, Mosammat Sharmin, Nusrat Jahan Runa, Ripon Hossain, Ajharul Islam, Aklima, Bithi, Ebadul, Hamida Akter, Harunur Rashid, Lipi Akter, Ajijul Haque, Mohammad Israfil, Nargis Begum, Naim, Ojufa, Rehena Khatun, Ruhul Amin, Runa Begum, Shahidul Islam, Sharmin Akter, Shima Akter, Shirin Akter, Shirin Akter, Taslima, Taslima Akter, Tushar, Morjina Khatun, Taslima Akter, Ekhlas Mia, Hridoy Hossain, Khaleda Akter, Mahmuda Akter, Rekha Khatun, Saleha Begum, Yasmin, Al Amin, Poly Akter, Mosammat Tania, Najma Akter, Shahinur, Abdul Ajij, Abdul Halim, Fatema, Kausar Ahmed, Mosammat Asma, Mosammat Rehena, Rohima, Ruksana Akter Roni, Saiful islam, Saifullah, Selim Rana, Shorifa Begum, Mohammad Anis, Monira Khatun, Anwarul Islam, Mohammad Sikandar, Jafar Sadeq, Khodeja Begum, Murshida Akter, Rofikul Islam, Maleka Akter, Rojina Akter, Mosammat Runa, Hosne Ara, Jaheda, Mahida Begum, Selim Mia, Mohammad Tutul, Nargis, Nargis Akter, Nasima Begum, Rehana Akter, Selina, Shiuli Akter, Shoriful Islam, Shumi Akter, Najma Begum, Selina, Titu, Josna Begum, Abdul Kader Rubel, Jobirul Mawla, Josna Begum, Kamrul Alam, Liakot Ali, Mahfuzur Rahman Millat, Bilal Hossain, Dulal Mia, Ridwan Luku, Mohammad Shumon, Taslim Hossain, Mosammat Aklima, Riaj, Roushan Ali, Farid, Alamgir, Hamida, Kakoli, Mahabubul Alam, Nayan Akter, Moriom, Morjina Begum, Bilkis Akter, Mostafijur Rahman, Hosne Ara, Ismail, Shamima, Shathi Akter, Sujarua, Rina Akter, Mosammat Akhi, Mosammat Kulsum, 461. Iqramul Haque, Mosammat Shima, Nurul Huda Sohel, Parvin Akter, Ratena Khatun, Rabeya, Jorina Khatun, Selina Akter, Beauty Akter, Jahidul Akter, Maksuda, Mamun-Ar-Rashid, Abu Taher, Ashraful Islam, Jillur Bari, Lutfur Rahman, Momin, Monika, Monju Rani, Mosammat Motija, Mosammat Sahera , Najma Begum, Oli Ullah, Rasheda Begum, Rekha Begum, Sabiha Sultana, Salma, Shahinur Begum, Shilpi, Shompa Begum, Sonia Akter, Taslima, Asadul Bapari, Asma Akter, Bristi Akter, Rejaul Mondol, Yasmin, Mohammad Obaidul, Ataur Rahman, Shuruj Mia, Mosammat Shathi, Sultan, Firoz, Kalpona, Mohammad Al-Amin, Mohammad Arman, Mollika, Najma Begum, Rajjak, Shajeda Begum, Mohsina Khatun, Rehena Parvin, Shahin Reja, Mohammad Mahedul, Hajera Khatun, Al-Amin, Dulali, Jamil, Julfikar Ali Masud, Kalpana, Khadija, Merina, Merina, Selim Hossain, Mosammat Aklima, Johura Khatun, Moriam Begum, Mosammat Runa, Naim, Najim Uddin, Nasrin Anwar, Rashid, Rejaul, Sabina Khatun, Selim, Shaheb Ali, Shamsun Nahar, Shathi, Shofiul Alam, Abdus Salam, Asma Begum, Chan Banu, Imran Hossain, Mahmuda, Abdur Rashid, Istamara Begum, Mosammat Kohinur, Prabhat Basu, Shirina, Shopna Begum, Sultana Khatun, Baby Akter, Jharna Begum, Lipi Khatun, Mosammat Munni, Mosammat Nasima, Yasmin Khatun, Saleha, Abdullah, Amena Begum, Hajrat Ali, Kakoli, Lata Begum, Mamun, Mehedi Hasan, Mosammat Aleya, Moushumi, Nishi Akter, Rayhan, Shabana, Sohel Rana, Shagorika, Dilnahar Khatun, Shima Akter, Motiur Rahman, Rimu Begum, Shirin Akter, Abdus Sobhan, Abul Kashem, Arjina, Asma, Firoja, Golapi Rani, Habibur Rahman, Josna, Kamrul Islam, Khushi Khatun, Malek Mondol, Mita Khatun, Alamgir Hossain, Alamgir Hossain, Iqbal Hossain, Mohammad Ripon, Shajedul Islam, Khairunnahar Munni, Rupa Akter, Nur Jahan Begum, Rasel, Salma, Shajeda, Shapla, Shapla Akter, Shathi Akter, Shilpi, Shima Akter, Shoriful Islam, Sultana, Farid Hossain, Laboni, Reshma, Rojina, Shajeda, Sultana, Elina Akter, Hasina, Hossain, Farjana, Khalil Hossain, Liton Mia, Parvin Akter, Abdul Qader Liton, Biplob, Fojila Khatun, Fuljan Khatun, Jorina Begum, Ariful Islam, Forhad Hossain, Israil Hossain, Rabeya Bosri, Rubina Begum, Selim Shekh, Shoriful Islam, Sonia, Tahsan Ahmed, Forijan, Komela Begum, Martha Shikha Hasda, Monika, Beauty Ara, Johurul, Shikha Akter, Anwar Noushad, China, Farhad Ali, Jharna, Kalpana, Abdul Momin, Jakir Hossain, Mojammel, Mosammat Rashida, Najmul, Nayan, Noyon, Nurul Islam, Poly Khatun, Rima Akter, Rojina Akter, Salma, Shofikul Islam, Shumi Khatun, Tajul Islam, Amena Khatun, Amina Khatun, Mohammad Solaiman, Momtaj, Aktarujjaman, Ariful Islam Raju, Dulal Mia, Imran, Kobir, Mohammad Furkan, Mohit Shekh, Mohammad Ripon, Shahina Akter, Najnin Akter Brishti, Parvin Begum, Shahnara, Shohagi, Sohan Shekh Jahid, Shahnaj Begum, Naju Akter, Mijanur Kholifa, Yadul Hasan, Muslima Khatun, Rohima Begum, Shirina Akter, Aklima Khatun, Aleya Khatun/Ferdousi, Saleha Begum, Ferdous, Hasan Uddin, Israil Bishwash, Jewel, Abu Said, Ratna Khatun, Mukta, Rohima Khatun, Salma Khatun, Sharmin Sultana, Johidunnesa Jaheda, Rohima, Sabina Khatun, Shahabuddi Kabir, Ali Hossain, Hannan, Khalek, Kohinur Begum, Maya Rani, Mohammad Polash, Nilufa Begum, Ripon, Rojina Khatun, Selina Akter, Tushar Mia, Yasmin, Asma, Shamima Akter, Alamgir, Momota Rani Das, Shobuj, Baki Shekh, Beauty Bewa, Bishwajit Shaha, Libha Begum, Mohammad Shagar, Ratna, Shathi, Shathi, Shekh Yusuf Rana, Shiuli, Shiuli Begum, Taslima Begum, Mohamad Abul Kashem Bhuiyan, Asma, Farjana, Asma Begum, Rofikul Shekh, Abdus Salam Jibon, Aleya Begum, Amirul Islam, Anika, Dipankar Ghosh, Jahangir Alam, Josna, Julekha, Julekha, Lata Begum, Manun Shekh, Masud Rana, Saidul Islam, Samsul Alam, Shahida, Shobha Akter, Moslema, Shimatun Shujata, Johurul Islam, Halima Khatun, Mukti, Nurjahan Khatun, Ujjal Shekh, Ashfarul Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Humayun, Rubia Khatun, Shirin Sultana, Shirina Khatun, Asadujjaman, Mosammat Shilpi, Shohidul Islam, Rashida Khatun, Shaukat/Soudat Hossain, Jewel, Robiul Hossain, Anjuara, Helal, Nasrin, Shirina, Lata Khatun, Sweety, Omar Faruque, Saidul Islam, Shekh Abul Kalam, Bhabani Mondol, Morjina Khatun, Afruja Begum, Aktara Khatun, Hanif, Joba, Khadija Begum, Khushi Akter,
Hasan Chowdhury, Nur Islam Rabbani, Mohammad Shablu, Shohidul/Shariful Islam, Mohammad Soleman, Farjana Khatun, Reshma Akter, Toshura Begum, Moushumi, Nipa Khatun, Nur Alam, Nurujjaman, Nurujjaman, Rina Akter, Rita, Rohima, Rojina, Rubel, Sabina Akter, Sabina Begum, Saifur Rahman, Shaila, Shumon Mia, Sobuj Ahmed, Sorjita, Sri Doyal Chandra Roy, Sweety Begum, Moushumi Akter, Pepetua Hasda, Nasima Akter, Rakib, Fojila Khatun, Mominul Islam, Abdul Karim, Ainul Islam, Bilkis Khatun, Gulshane Jannat, Mahmud Hasan, Abdul Latif, Mohammad Islamul, Shaju Akter, Saiyeda Begum, Shantona Akter, Shefali Mardi, Shonali, Shoriful Islam, Abdus Sattar Shagor, Anwar Hossain, Archona Rani, Arifa Khatun, Asma Begum, Dulali, Dulali Begum, Hasina, Helena Begum, Jakia, Johirul Islam, Johurul Islam, Jomela, Julekha, Lipi Akter, Mili, Mini Akter, Minu Mia, Abdul Qader Siddiq, Jasim Uddin, Mohammad Momin, Mohammad Monowarul, Shabuj Shekh, Moksedur, Mollika, Moni, Dulali Begum, Monjila Begum, Nasrin, Nur Karim, Rakib, Rashida Khatun, Reba Khatun, Rohima, Rojina Begum, Salma, Shagor Mondol, Shahana Begum, Shahena, Shahida Khatun, Shahin, Shefali, Shima Akter, Shipon Rashid, Shiuli, Shiuli Begum, Shujan, Shumi Akter, Sriti, Tojammel Hossain, Yunus Mia, Begum, Bulbuli, Bulbuli Begum, Masud, Meher Rani Begum, Chhobi Begum, Maksuda Akter, Nasha Begum, Pinky, Raja, Rashida, Jasim Uddin, Bilkis Akter, Halima Reshma, Mina Begum, Kobirul Islam, Mohammat Jillur Rahman, Bithi Khatun, Kamona Begum, Mosammat Mukta, Nurunnahar Akter Shilpi, Nur Banu Akter, Shyamoli Khatun, Abdul Hamid, Aidul Islam, Ambia, Banesa, Hasinur Rahman, Jahanara Begum, Mosammat Shathi, Qaiyyum, Rabeya Khatun, Halima Khatun, Rubina Khatun, Salma, Shahadat Hossain, Sufia Begum, Anjuman Begum, Laboni Akter, Lovely Akter Lucky, Maya Rani, Kajal Mia, Rojina Akter, Kamrul, Milon, Jahangir Alam, Mohammad Shumon, Golapi Kajal, Qaiyyum, Rashida, Rati rani, Rojina, Ini Begum, Sriti Begum, Sokina, Al Masud, Mohammad Selim, Yusuf Ali, Renu Begum, Abdul Baten, Hossain, Ainul Haque, Aleya Begum, Anjuman Ara, Arjina, Ekramul, Farida Parvin, Golapi Begum, Gulshan Ara Begum,
Halima, Hasina, Idris Ali, Jahid Hasan, Jewel, kjmk, Laiju Akter, Laily Begum, Lovely, Majeda Begum, Abu Said, Kobir Hossain, Munna Mia, Najmul Hossain, Mohammad Rejaul, Mominur Mia, Monowar Hossain, Morjina Akter, Mosammat Aduri, Mosammat Farida, Fatema Begum, Nuri Akter, Mosammat Rekha, Salma Akter, Mosammat Shefali, Nargis, Nasim Uddin, Nasima Khatun, Newaj Sharif, Nila Akter, Paritosh Chandra Barmon, Peyarul, Rabeya Begum, Rani, Rasel, Rofiqul Islam, Rohima Begum, Roksana, Rubina Banu, Rupali, Selimujjaman Badsha, Shamsuddoha, Shantona, Shohag, Shona Mia, Shorifa Begum, Shujan Chandra Roy, Shumi, Shyamoli, Arisa Khatun, Arjuba, Abu Syed, Morjina, Shahidul, Sobeda Khatun, Jahanara Begum, Jaheda Khatun, Mosammat Ojifa, Sobiron, Baby Akter, Mohammad Babul, Morshedul Islam, Mosammat Qulsum, Rajib, Anju Begum, Altaf Hossain, Shilpi Akter, Najma Khatun, Shahinur Parvin, Shirin Akter, Alamin, Al-Amin, Badsha, Fahima, Lipi, Mashiur Rahman Nannu, Mehedi, Abu Saleh, Mohammad Badal, Belayet Hossain, Mohammad Ilias, Nasir Uddin, Shohag Haolader, Mosammat Jakia, Shahina Akter Kajal, Mosammat Sonia, Nayan, Rina, Rojina Akter, Ruby, Shobuj, Siddiqur Rahman, Mohammad Khairul, Salma Akhter, Ali Akbar, Amina Khatun, Hasan, Ajmol Hossain, Rojina, Rojina Luchi, Anwara Begum, Forkan Haolader, Hashi Begum, Hira Begum, Jahanara Begum, Jahangir Hossain Sharif, Jewel Haolader, Jinnat Ara Popy, Masum, Gias Uddin, Mohammad Rofiq, Mohammad Shujon, Chompa Begum, Mosammat Kulsum, Moyna Begum, Najma Begum, Nupur, Rofikul Islam, Shahabuddin, Shima Akter, Hashi Akter Munni, Hena, Jannat, Najma, Rofikul, Bitu Baroi, Amena Begum, Lucky Akter, Monir Hossain, Anwara Begum, Dinaj, Harun-ar-Rashid, Jhumur, Josim, Abdul Goni, Mahbub Alam, Mosammat Shahanaj, Nur Mohammad Mir, Ria Akter Ruma, Rohima, Ruma, Salma Begum, Shumi, Jinnat Ara Popy, Laiju Akter, Rohima Bibi, Shumon, Rabeya Khatun, Hafija, Jamal Mia, Kaosar, Khaleda Akter, Majeda, Mamun, Mitu, Nur-e-Alam Shikdar, Putul, Rima Akter, Ruby, Shuborna, Sonia, Tania, Lucky Akter, Popy Akter, Mosammat Salma, Bilkis Begum, Kaosar, Mohammad Siddiq, Taslima
Begum, Nargis, Ruksana Begum, Shahina, Sogir Ahmed, Shathi, Rabeya Akter, Hridoy, Jhuma Akter, Kobir Khan, Madhobi Rani, Ali Ajom, Mohammad Ripon, Moni, Najrul Islam, Ruksana, Shiuli, Sultan, Abu Syed, Lija Akter, Nilufa Begum, Akhi Akhter, Taposh Haolader, Alpona Rani, Benu Rani Das, Biplob Bhattacharya, Jayanto, Promila, Shabindra Das, Sharothi Rani Shaha, Shuchita Rani, Shufola, Shushanta Das, Titon Baladam, Jadob Das Nishi, Shurobhi Rani Das, Brojeshwar, Sufia Khatun, Nirmona Rani Das, Nurujjaman, Sanjit Das, Shomapti Rani Das, Doly Rani Das, Ruma Akter, Rashida Akter. ,
The Plight of Bazlus Samad Adnan, Owner of Garment Factories in Rana Plaza, Savar, Bangladesh
Samad Adnan imagined a sterling g arment business reputation years ago, as soon as his dad loaned him seed money. His reputation for good, fast, cheap clothing production began with twenty-five sewing machines, grew when H o u s e o f P e a r l called on behalf of J o e F r e s h , whose reputation as one of Canada's top-selling apparel brands guaranteed giant clothing orders, one after the other, rooting Adnan's reputation, sprouting American contracts, millions of dollars, two thousand workers and factories filling half of Rana Plaza. Adnan's reputation: ship it on time, never work more than seven day weeks, twelve hour days. "They all squeezed me," Adnan admitted. To keep up his reputation, he pushed Sohel Rana to start constructing a ninth story. He needed more factory space — though people questioned Rana Plaza's reputation.
A wall crack. Broken plaster on the second floor. "I called the factory managers, told them 'evacuate the factories.'" His reputation was on the line. "Sometimes, workers are very sensitive. They know the rules." Rana's engineer inspected. "Everything was okay." Whose reputation
was he to trust? "I am not an expert. Not a single person said it was dangerous." Samad Adnan's good business reputation was threatened when Rana Plaza collapsed. He surrendered to police. "Staff came to the court. Cried. A lot of people visited." But his reputation wasn't everyone's concern. "Nobody from J o e F r e s h has talked to me. Nobody from H o u s e o f P e a r l ." How can a good business reputation not suffer in jail? "My business is gone. My machines are gone. Everything is gone." He fears a lifetime in jail — surely anyone's reputation buster. This poet thinks: when Adnan said he didn't know how many workers of his died in Rana Plaza, he forever wrecked his reputation.
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