Dear Friends,
I hope this message finds you in good health. Bangladesh has recently gone through a challenging period marked by political unrest and the formation of a new government. In July, widespread protests erupted as students demanded government job quota reforms, leading to violence, curfews, and internet shutdowns. This mass uprising resulted in the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year regime, with her fleeing to India.
In the face of police brutality, public fear surged, causing many to go into hiding. For four days, the country was in chaos without a functioning government or police force. However, order was restored with the formation of an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus, and life is gradually returning to normal.
In addition to the political upheaval, Bangladesh is now dealing with severe flooding that has disrupted daily life and impacted many communities. Fortunately, our area and our artisans are safe despite the challenging circumstances.
Amidst these challenges, we regret to inform you that BaSE will be unable to participate in the upcoming 17th International Fair Trade Summit (WFTO) in Cape Town, South Africa, from September 17–20, 2024. This was a difficult decision, as we were eager to connect with our global fair trade community. Unfortunately, the current situation in Bangladesh has made it impossible for us to attend.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Intermon Oxfam friends, for generous support in helping us prepare for the conference. We are also immensely thankful to the WFTO team for offering us sponsorship to participate in the summit.
Though we cannot be there, we wish the WFTO Summit every success. We hope this event will help push forward the mission to make Fair Trade labels more visible, encouraging large corporations to integrate fair trade products into their supply chains for the benefit of conscious consumers worldwide.
BaSE remains deeply committed to empowering artisans and promoting sustainable, fair trade practices, no matter the obstacles we face. We will continue our efforts with resilience and optimism, looking forward to brighter days ahead.
Thank you all for your continued support and understanding. We will keep you updated on our journey and hope to reconnect with you soon.
Warm regards,
Shourove
On behalf of the BaSE Team
