10th anniversary press statement
Embargoed.
Until 00.01 GMT Monday 24 April 2023.
10TH ANNIVERSARY – RANA PLAZA SURVIVORS
ISSUE LEGAL WARNING TO FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK
#IRemember1136 & #ShutUpForRanaPlaza.
(Today, Monday 24 April, 2023 (London, UK & Dhaka Bangladesh) – On the 10th anniversary (24 April 2023) of the tragic Rana Plaza factory building collapse, Lovedesh, a British ethical luxury fashion brand that campaigns to protect people and planet. Which works at grassroots, with many of the Rana Plaza victims, is proud to resurrect the launch of two campaigns called #IRemember1136. And #ShutUpForRanaPlaza. Both will run for one year in order to cancel and replace the global fashion campaign “Fashion Revolution Week.”
It is also a pre-cursor to legal action being taken to seek damages from those who have hurt survivors and relatives of the dead, impacted by the Rana Plaza tragedy.
These two hashtag campaigns #IRemember1136 and #ShutUpForRanaPlaza, were first designed in 2019 and 2020 respectively, by Lovedesh’s British CEO Yasmin A. Choudhury (Happy), to reclaim the voice and narrative of some of the Rana Plaza victims, who are “disgusted” and “angry” at the many “clout chasing” and “money making” schemes run by Western fashion campaigning organisations outside of Bangladesh. Many survivors of Rana Plaza claim several global organisations use their images as well as the names of those who were killed.
And in so doing, these western based fashion campaigning organisations, have been collecting money, donations and awards. Without the permission. involvement or knowledge of the relatives of the dead, or of the survivors themselves.
Top of the Rana Plaza victims’ list is Fashion Revolution. As well Awaj Foundation (Bangladesh), Fair Wear Foundation (Netherlands), Remake Our World (USA), Laudes Foundation (Switzerland), Red Carpet Green Dress (USA) and Sarah Krasley, CEO of Shimmie Technologies (USA & Bangladesh).
Both hashtag campaigns are being led by Lovedesh CEO Yasmin A. Choudhury (Happy), with assistance from Mrs Moriom Akter Shanchita, who is lead representative of the Lovedesh Rana Plaza Victims Group (LRPVG), consisting of 20+ survivors. And endorsed by the Bangladeshi Rana Plaza Survivors Association that works to benefit over 4,000 families.
11.36AM – ONE MINUTE SILENCE – #IREMEMBER1136
To mark the death of the 1,136 garment workers, and to help support their families who continue to mourn their dead. As well as the missing, the sick, disabled, the widowed, the orphans and the jobless. For this purpose. Lovedesh invites the world to hold a one minute silence at 11:36 am local time. wherever you are in the world.
And to stand with the LRPVG, a group of over 20 plus Rana Plaza survivors or relatives of the dead, sponsored and mentored by CEO Yasmin Choudhury. And to urge the fashion conscious to purchase the #IRemember1136 benefit t shirt from the Lovedesh Merch website. As all profits will be donated to the LRPVG.
“FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK” = #SHUTUP4RANAPLAZA
In 2013, a British fashion campaigning organisation called Fashion Revolution, led by two white women, cited the Rana Plaza tragedy as the sole cause to set itself up as a fashion campaigning organisation. It then chose to name the same week in which the very Rana Plaza factory collapsed and killed 1,136 garment workers in Bangladesh, after their own organisation. And so “Fashion Revolution Week” was coined. And grew into a global movement. With offices in many nations. And donations were sought. And many fundraising campaigns were borne to support “Fashion Revolution Week”.
Yet we could find no sign of any Rana Plaza victims being involved. Nor do they involve them because they survivors informed us as such.
Now #ShutUp4Rana Plaza seeks to urge all public and donor organisations to stop supporting and funding “Fashion Revolution Week”. And the global fashion campaigning sector.
Instead we are calling for urgent scrutiny from relevant Government authorities, namely, the United Kingdom, EU, USA and Bangladesh. To investigate and regulate the fashion campaigning sector. And Rana Plaza survivors are also seeking to replace the global “Fashion Revolution Week” campaign with the ##SHUTUP4RANAPLAZA – to ensure the voices of the voiceless are now heard every year. Because evidence exists their victims’ voices are being disrespected. And to seek to resolve a dispute that started back in 2019. When requests for meetings with the survivors were rejected or ignored by many global fashion campaigners.
In 2020. Objections were even later raised by Lovedesh and the victims, after Orsola Di Castro, founder of Fashion Revolution and Tasmin Lejeune of Common Objective, were separately approached, to support and/or collaborate with the benefit #IRemember1136 t shirt that Lovedesh had designed, that came with the blessing and cooperation of Rana Plaza survivors. Who were delighted with a new fashion campaign that pin pointed and remembered the number who they state had died in the Rana Plaza collapse. All to no avail.
PRE ACTION PROTOCOL NOTICE
Lovedesh can confirm it has already served Awaj Foundation, Fashion Revolution Bangladesh and Fair Wear Foundation’s staff member in Bangladesh, a pre action protocol legal notice, on behalf of Lovedesh and the LRPVG. This was posted and emailed over a week ago by our legal team of lawyers in Bangladesh. And we now reserve the right to pursue further legal action via the Bangladeshi crime and civil courts against the “exploitation, fraud and misleading of the public”. Relating to donations collected since 2013, during “Fashion Revolution Week” given this campaign’s origin and momentum are linked to the terrible Rana Plaza factory collapse.
“On behalf of the Lovedesh Rana Plaza victims group, we are asking for a minute to remember our dead. Who were killed by fashion. And for the world to cancel Fashion Revolution Week” said Mrs Moriom Akter Shanchita, A former Rana Plaza garment worker who was sick on the day of the tragedy and avoided the collapse. Morion has been left for 10 years, searching to locate the body of her dead sister. Missing 13 year old female Rana Plaza garment worker Shameli.
Mrs Moriom Akter Shanchita continues:“There can be no revolution in Fashion, without the Rana Plaza survivors – and us – the relatives of the dead and missing. Fashion Revolution, Awaj Foundation, FairWear Foundation never gave us any money. Nor offered to search for my dead sister Shameli.
“Now we are all asking what have they been doing with all the money they earned through the global fashion campaign “Fashion Revolution Week?” We the survivors were wholly unaware of this campaign until Lovedesh CEO Miss Yasmin, who has heritage from Bangladesh and can speak our language, informed us of this horrific global campaign. We never even got invited to speak. They all just spoke for us. For 10 years. Do we not have a voice? Or it is because we are poor and deemed illiterate? We now want remedy and urge everyone to stop Fashion Revolution Week. And to read the open letter regarding proposed remedies, written by Miss Yasmin Choudhury on all our behalf. Which aims to seek an out of court financial and non financial settlement before May 1, 2023. In order to avoid criminal and civil court action”’.
To watch a more extensive interview with Mrs Moriom Akter Shanchita, here is the video in full.
OUR DISPUTE WITH NAZMA AKTER, AWAJ FOUNDATION
Lovedesh and the LRPVG also object to the under hand means by which foreign western based charities have been working with Nazma Akter, founder and Executive Director of Awaj Foundation, a Bangladeshi charity claiming to represent garment worker interests. This individual is deeply distrusted and objected to, by Rana Plaza victims.
The foreign organisations who have worked with Ms Akter, despite being informed of her unethical conduct include CEO Leslie Johnston of Laudes Foundation (Switzerland), Founder Suzy Cameron and CEO Samata Pattinson of RCGD (Red Carpet, Green Dress USA) and Alexander Kohnstamm, Executive Director of Fairwear Foundation (Netherlands). All famous fashion campaigning organisations, who were observed by Lovedesh, as excluding Rana Plaza victims and instead collaborating with Nazma Akther of Awaj to help them monetise projects. Believed to be in excess of millions of pounds.
“We find it despicable that two ‘tone deaf’ white women (Orsola Di Castro and Cary Somers of Fashion Revolution) appear to erase Rana Plaza voices, with no consultation from the vulnerable survivors, who for 10 years remained in the dark about “Fashion Revolution Week”.
“To have even named the same week in which the deaths of 1,136 garment workers in Bangladesh happened after their own organisation is not only contemptible but painful to the memory of the dead and grieving. Their actions 10 years on – reek of ‘white saviour complex’ and “colonialist mantra” because if they sincerely cared – instead of blocking us, they would talk to us. They chose not. But they are not the only ones with arrogance and hubris, The list of cloying fashionistas profiteering from erasing the Rana Plaza survivors, is as long as my arm,” said Yasmin A. Choudhury (Happy), CEO of Lovedesh.
Choudhury continues:“This type of erasure and insult could and would never happen to British or American survivors of tragedies. Fashion Revolution did not get any mandate. But we did before we undertook any activity. And why I will stand up for the voiceless. As upon informing Fashion Revolution of the pioneering #IRemember1136 benefit t-shirt, Orsola Di Castro and Tamsin Lejeune appeared to me – reluctant and too busy to get involved. Worst of all – upon being challenged, many famous names and organisations have also blocked me. a clear sign surely of guilt perhaps? This includes Fashion Revolution (UK), Remake Our World (USA). While others with access to power and platform, .who could help expose the concerns we have raised refused to get involved. Including journalists Brett Matthews of Apparel Insider, Jasmin Malik Chua of Sourcing Journal and Nadine White, Race Correspondent of British newspaper Independent (latter two. blocked me)- all of whom were presented with evidence and asked to investigate. But refused to do so. Citing that the story of the Rana Plaza survivors views does not merit being explored further. Or just ghosting us. Hence we now have a media blacklist as the survivors and victims state they wish too have nothing to do with such journalists who betray the code of ethics”
She added: “Henceforth I am alerting every global and foreign organisation, entity and charity involved with the global “Fashion Revolution Week” campaign, to be very wary of raising or donating funds to Fashion Revolution the organisation and to any of its related entities. We ask that they, as supporters of this global fashion campaign do not become complicit in misleading the public. Who remain unaware that Rana Plaza survivors were cut out. And hence could be deemed by survivors, to be colluding and endorsing “Fashion Revolution Week” – a campaign that was not and never will be one that is endorsed by Rana Plaza survivors. And as no evidence exists, as of yet, of any monies paid to Rana Plaza victims, we urge all organisations we remain in dispute with, to settle this. By reading the open letter proposing an array of remedies both Lovedesh and the Lovedesh Rana Plaza victims will be seeking. In order to avoid court action. And of course, should all organisations who have hurt the work that Lovedesh and the Rana Plaza Victims Group have undertaken, and should parties we are in dispute with, ignore or refuse to mediate, then we will be seeking to file a motion through our legal team in Bangladesh through the Judge’s Court of Sylhet or Supreme Court of Bangladesh.”
For more evidence of the array of many more organisations who have hurt the Rana Plaza victims including Safia Minney, former founder of People Tree fashion brand, former High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson, British Bangladesh Fashion Council as well as Extinction Rebellion and their fashion deal with the brand Stella McCartney, you can visit Lovedesh Hall Of Horrors. Which over the next few days and weeks will publish each and every story with evidence of what some of the biggest names in fashion have done, in order to prevent Rana Plaza victims from having a voice in their own tragedy. Or have been using and exploiting the Rana Plaza tragedy. In order to raise funds. None of which has benefited the Rana Plaza victims. Or those who simply hijacked work done by Lovedesh.
– Ends –
CONTACT INFORMATION
Press: media@lovedesh.com and ranaplazavictims@lovedesh.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
- More info about the LRPVG is here https://www.lovedesh.com/lovedesh-rana-plaza-victims-group/
- Lovedesh’s mandate from survivors is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnS81SoFLH8&t=686s
- To read the formal legal notice (in Bengali) below. Issued by our legal team of Bangladeshi Advocates to Awaj Foundation, Fashion Revolution Bangladesh and Fair Wear Foundation.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x17qo7tipa3ltd1/%2AFINAL%2A%20Rana%20Plaza%20Legal%20Notice.pdf?dl=0
2. Lovedesh Hall Of Horrors.
3. In 2020 the Survivors protested and hung a banner showing all the faces of those who hurt the work Lovedesh is doing.
Message from husband and wife team, former Rana Plaza garment worker Moriom Akter Sanchita (sister of missing child garment worker Shameli) and Ohidul a survivor – to Nazma Akter of Awaj Foundation
In 2020, a short film behind the scenes, was even published on YouTube, Documenting CEO Yasmin A Choudhury (Happy’s) trip to meet the Rana Plaza victims of Savar, Bangladesh. Who she was shocked to find remained destitute, jobless, sick and desperately in need.
THE LETTER & PROPOSAL
LOVEDESH RANA PLAZA VICTIMS
OPEN LETTER RE PRE-ACTION PROTOCOL
PUBLISHED 23 APRIL 2023 – EVE OF THE RANA PLAZA DISASTER
THE LETTER & PROPOSAL
LOVEDESH RANA PLAZA VICTIMS
OPEN LETTER RE PRE-ACTION PROTOCOL
PUBLISHED 23 APRIL 2023 – EVE OF THE RANA PLAZA DISASTER
Sir/Madam,
Re Pre-Action Protocol Legal Notice
This letter has been drafted by myself. Miss Yasmin A. Choudhury (Happy). CEO of registered British company Lovedesh (07908945). And joint claimant Mrs Mst. Moriom Akter Shanchita, a former Rana Plaza victim. Who is lead representative of the LRPVG.
We are acting on behalf of 20+ members and beneficiaries of the “The Lovedesh Rana Plaza Victims Group” (LRPVG). Which was convened in 2019. Their page can be found here.
I hereby issue a second formal pre-action legal notice to Miss Nazma Akhter of Awaj Foundation, Masrur Rahman, Country Co-Ordinator of Fashion Revolution Bangladesh. And Bablur Rahman, Country Manager of Fair Wear in Bangladesh.
Including all and any secondary parties. Listed above. Which are also, organisation(s) our clients – The Lovedesh Rana Plaza Victims Group (LRPVG), are in dispute with. These include Laudes Foundation. Red Carpet Green Dress. ReMake Our World. Shimmie Technologies and more.
This is a formal cease and desist order. To prevent all parties from being involved or mentioning the 10th anniversary regarding the Rana Plaza tragedy. And to expose what each of you did and have done to victims of Rana Plaza.
Furthermore. Our clients are seeking compensation in excess of £36 million+. For fraud. And for damage, personal injury and distress that has caused further deprivation to my clients. By the actions of the lead defendants.
Due to the exceptional emergency on the occasion of the approaching 10th anniversary of The Rana Plaza factory collapse on 24th April 2023. We seek an urgent resolution. To this dispute. Privately. We attach and present a pre court action proposal.
Should this offer be rejected. We will then seek remedy via the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. And file a class action petition. After 24 April 2023.
I have appointed a lawyer in Bangladesh. To represent Lovedesh and the Rana Plaza Victims Group, in a criminal and civil class action suit. Regarding the infringement of their humanitarian and moral rights. And complicity in fraud. Cover ups. Causing personal injury, distress to me and our clients. First we will sue in Bangladesh, later in each of the host nations where defendants are based – eg UK, Switzerland and EU.
What is the nature of the dispute?
We possess evidence Ms Nazma Akther of Awaj Foundation and Fashion Revolution are “fraudsters”. Who have exploited Rana Plaza collapse for their own personal gain. And that Fair Wear Foundation as well as secondary defendants have all helped to endorse the former. Together, the LRPVG believe they have hijacked the trauma and tragedy of our clients, the Rana Plaza victims to benefit themselves. As well as many elite, powerful, rich individuals who work for foreign organisations and charities. Either they aided and abetted. Or benefited. Financially. Or via non tangible assets.
Furthermore. Both Ms Nazma Akther of Awaj Foundation and Fashion Revolution misled the global public. And became self-appointed speakers on the Rana Plaza collapse.
They further refused to platform Rana Plaza victims or assist them when Miss Yasmin contacted them. Erased their voices. And erased their right to speak at events and campaigns. Which were undertaken without their express permission. Survivors were never invited to any of their events.
You, who are not the victims or the dead of Rana Plaza, have earned in excess of million pounds of income – donated or funded. Or established your brand, products or organisation by relying on this tragedy. Yet every member of LRPVG remained penniless. Hungry. And starving.
You have all claimed to care about sustainable and sweatshop free fashion. When we possess evidence to the contrary. And when each of you, or nominated representative/agent/partners were written or contacted privately by me, to put right the wrong done. You did not choose to do so.
Now the LRPVG want answers. That go as far back as April 24th, 2013. The date of their trauma. Tragedy. Sickness. And death.
Our Pre-Action Protocol Offer
We now ask each of you to agree, to settle this dispute within seven days. And have proposed terms listed below. Our offer expires on Monday 1 May, 2023 at 00.00 Bangladesh time. After which, I and my legal team of experts are prepared to file a civil and criminal legal suit in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Recently for 1.6 billion+ Muslims, it was the month of Ramadan. The LRPVG wish you well. And our requests are very reasonable. They simply seek the following outcomes. So that you can ALL put right the wrong done. And they want to make clear they are very happy to forgive each of you, upon to you being open, to discussing the terms on offer, listed below.
- We ask each of you to pay damages, as we seek a total sum in excess of £36 million+ from all of you. To cover medical expenses. Injury and distress done. These costs will be used to fund the following, which are projects being led and founded by Miss Yasmin of Lovedesh:
- The 1136 Fund. Sums granted to members of the Lovedesh Rana Plaza Victims Fund to re-boost their lives. Provide medical expenses. And to mentor and re-train them into sustainable livelihoods.
- The RIP Fund. We will use funds to resume the search of dead bodies that remain missing from the Rana Plaza collapse. Starting with Miss Moriom’s dead teenage sister Shameli. And will further fund more searches for dead bodies via the launch of a ethical and natural skin and beauty brand called “Shameli”.
- Memorial Invitation. You are invited to attend a Rana Plaza Memorial on the 11th anniversary at Savar, Dhaka immediately, on 24 April 2024. This is a ticketed event. To help place flowers and light candles for the dead. Which will be hosted by Lovedesh and members of the LRPVG. A press conference will follow the next day. We ask you to join us. And participate.
- Memorial Garden. We are seeking to request the Bangladeshi Government and former owner of Rana Plaza building for the now derelict area to be transformed into a peaceful memorial. We seek your help to lobby for this wonderful idea to remember the dead, who died for fashion.
- #IRemember1136 World Memorial Fashion Tour. From May 2023. Lovedesh will be seeking to kickstart a world tour for Rana Plaza victims which will be a ticketed event. To ensure their voices are heard and to showcase innovation in sweatshop free fashion. And they meet with media and consumers. These events will be held in Rome – Italy, Dubai – UAE, Tokyo – Japan, Mumbai – India, London – UK, Los Angeles – USA. Geneva – Switzerland and Brussels, Belgium.
- Luxury Outlet. Lovedesh will open a multi storey retail outlet in Bond Street, London W1, UK . And we will be bringing Rana Plaza victims to be trained to work as temporary sales assistants. And to showcase pioneering sustainable food, fashion and travel. Created to protect people and planet as well as boost income and create jobs in the UK and across the developing world.
- POPP Magazine, A luxury magazine to showcase sustainable fashion, food and travel. Employing vulnerable communities across the world, from jobless transgender people in Bangladesh. To war refugees and working class adults.
- Offices. Lovedesh will seek to establish an office in Sylhet Bangladesh and Savar, Dhaka. We invite you to join in this effort. So that the victims are empowered with their own voices.
- A Personal Apology. Given to each of the member of the LRPVG – they wish for this to be at a face-to-face meeting privately in Bangladesh to occur after 24 April 2023. In Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Financial Transparency. Independent verified accounts of all donations and benefits in kind (financial and non-financial) received since 24 April 2013 which were in directly or indirectly linked to Rana Plaza victims or Nazma Akhter of Awaj Foundation. As my clients wish to peruse this information. For quantum purposes. If a financial settlement is reached to the satisfaction of my clients – they are happy to remove this condition as part of a settlement.
- Change voice. To assist and support Rana Plaza Victims to reclaim their voices. And control their own narrative. Miss Nazma as well as the organisations listed, must never be allowed to speak on or behalf of Rana Plaza victims.
- Erase “Fashion Revolution Week”. Rana Plaza victims no longer wish this phrase to be associated with their tragedy nor during and in the week the tragedy occurred. All promotional events and marketing online or offline must cease.
- No More Rana Plaza Events. No event can take place before, in the run up or after the Rana Plaza anniversary. All any and events will be handled by victims or their relevant appointed grass root organisations. Such as Lovedesh.
- “Poverty Porn”. We request you and others across the world to cease all mention of Rana Plaza and or showing victims faces. In any marketing or promotional item – be it online via social media. Or offline.
- Join Us? We now invite each of you to join Lovedesh’s honorary advisory panel to support Miss Yasmin’s plans to combat sweatshops. And to help Rana Plaza victims. You are welcome to nominate a member of your staff.
Should all of the above conditions be amenable to you. We will cease court proceedings in Bangladesh and UK. And swiftly take steps to confer a meeting in Dhaka. With you and your legal representatives. If we reach a settlement, we will keep this a closed private matter. And to look ahead.
Miss Yasmin and Mrs Moriom have also further issued a public video appeal – to confirm the Rana Plaza victims have no desire to take this matter to a Bangladeshi court. They wish to resolve all of this in private.
I attach the link here.
As the stress and trauma on the LRPVG members, many of whom are poverty stricken, jobless, disabled will be extreme. Many are also widow/ers. Or disabled. Destitute. And because the 10th anniversary coincided with Eid-al-Fitr – a major Islamic religious festival that concludes the Holy Month Of Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset when they are nil by mouth – while this day was enjoyed by over 1.6 billion+ Muslims across the world. The Rana Plaza victims began to mourn the dead and injured.
Future Court Action
Should this opportunity be declined then, our legal team in Bangladesh reserve the right to seek remedy via the Sylhet Judge’s Court or The Supreme Court in Dhaka We will also instruct our lawyers to assist in helping us report all organisations listed in this letter for misleading the public, fraud, embezzlement and injury and distress to Rana Plaza victims of Bangladesh. All of which are crimes in Bangladesh. We will also overturn every piece of evidence we possess, to the relevant authorities. We are also due to host a global press conference in Savar, Dhaka after 24 April 2023 – the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse. With the victims.
Our lawyers will also seek to apply for an injunction to prevent all foreign organisations outside of Bangladesh, from collecting any donations or benefits from partner organisations, sponsors and donors. As well as seeking an injunction to halt any media or charity or activity being held before or after “Fashion Revolution week”. And we will pursue you robustly through the legal system in Bangladesh. In UK and every other nation.
Public Notice
As this is also a public interest matter.
It is our duty to whistle blow. And to report wrongdoing undertaken against one of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Poverty stricken Bangladeshi former garment workers of one of the most deadliest building collapses. Who are victims. The dead, sick, injured and disabled victims of 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh. In which 1.136 were killed. And over 2,000 injured.
We therefore regret to inform you a copy of this formal notice is also being sent to all and any other donors or partner organisations of yours. By us. As well as posted on the Lovedesh website.
This is being done in advance to prevent any event preparations or charity campaigns related on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse. In order to inform and assist the general public and media. Of the dispute Lovedesh and Rana Plaza victims have, with Awaj Foundation and Fashion Revolution. As well as some of the world’s biggest fashion campaigning charities and organisations.
I look forward to resolving this matter urgently.
Yours Sincerely
Yasmin A Choudhury (Happy) & Morion Akter Shanchita
CEO of Lovedesh & On Behalf Of Lovedesh Rana Plaza Victims Group
