Speaking at the inauguration of the “Strengthening Due Diligence in Bangladesh Textile Sector” project organized by Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies-BILS and Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO, the speakers said that identifying environmental pollution in this sector and improving the working environment of workers, improving occupational health and ensuring labour rights are important for all stakeholders. Taking proper initiative is the need of the hour. The event was organized on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital under the initiative of BILS and ESDO in collaboration with Femnet EV.

ESDO Chairperson and former Secretary of Bangladesh government Syed Margub Morshed attended the event as a special guest, while Vice Chairman of BILS Amirul Haque Amin was on the chair. Among others, Naimul Ahsan Jewell, Joint Coordinator of Sramik Karmachari Oikkya Parishad (SKOP), BILS Executive Council Secretary and G-SCOP leader Shakil Akhtar Chowdhury, Industrial Bangladesh Council General Secretary Qutubuddin Ahmed, Member of BILS Advisory Council and former Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Dr. Mahfuzul Haque, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Hajera Khatun, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Noor e Khaja Alamin, Program Manager of ILO Dhaka Office Niran Ramjuthan, Senior Technical Advisor of Esdo Abul Hashem, Ashulia Union Parishad Member Mohammad Ali, ESDO Executive Director Siddika Sultana and BILS Director Nazma Yesmin spoke on the occasion. BILS Project Coordinator Md Sayeduzzaman Mithu presented the project presentation.
Speakers recommended the inclusion of living wage and occupational health and safety issues in the social dialogue framework for overall project implementation. They opined that this project can achieve a good result if the local field level trade union as well as sector level leaders and local public representatives are involved in the implementation of the overall activities. They emphasized on understanding the content of the Due Diligence Act and recommended the scope of work around the Act.
Secretary General of ESDO. Shahriar Hossain highlighted the environmental risks in the textile sector and emphasized the role of BILS and ESDO in community-based monitoring and worker-based monitoring.