For millions of workers — the labour behind the ready-made garment industry often cited as the “main driving force” of the country’s economy — the reality of this holiday season is stark.

By Saturday night, Sahara Chowdhury Rabil ended her nearly two-day hunger strike — her latest form of protest forcing a conversation on LGBTQ rights in Bangladesh. She first came to the spotlight in August this year for caricatures of two vocal anti-LGBTQ individuals.

After the interim government took office last year, cases under controversial laws like the Digital Security Act (DSA) were reportedly annulled. However, despite an official announcement in May 2025, victims continued facing lengthy legal battles until recently.

Netra News’ findings show stark discrepancies between the state’s legal obligations and the conditions at three state-run Children Development Centres (CDC) where children, many without convictions or even formal charges, are detained under the guise of rehabilitation.