The inauguration ceremony of a 14-month project titled ‘Support for Effective and Inclusive Trade Unions in Bangladesh’, to be implemented by BILS in collaboration with ILO, was held on 29 February 2024 at a local hotel in the capital. The main objective of the project is to enhance the skills of trade union members in tripartite social dialogue.
BILS Vice Chairperson Shirin Akhter presided over the event, while Program Manager of ILO Dhaka office Neeran Ramjuthan, GIZ Bangladesh Commission Manager Dr. Christian Boseman were present as special guests. Among others, Joint Coordinator of Sramik Karmachari Oikkya Parishad (SKOP) and Member of BILS Advisory Council Noor Kutub Alam Mannan, BILS Advisory Council Member Shah Mohd Abu Zafar, BILS Executive Council Secretary and G-SKOP representative Shakil Akhter Chowdhury, General Secretary of Industrial Bangladesh Council Kutubuddin Ahmed, WRC Chairman Babul Akhtar, BILS Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, GIZ Bangladesh Education and Youth Adviser Afia Rashid, ILO Dhaka Office Senior Officer Md Saidul Islam and BILS Director Kohinoor Mahmood spoke on the occasion, while  BILS Project Coordinator Ashish Acharya and WRC Manager Rafiqul Alam presented the project presentation. Rajshahi University Professor and BILS Advisory Council Member Dr. Jakir Hossain , BILS Executive Council Secretary and BTUC Joint General Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, WRC Women Committee Chairman Fahmida Kashem and BFTUC Youth Committee General Secretary Asaduzzaman also participated in the panel discussion.
The speakers pointed out that it is possible to develop the capacity of trade unions through democratic and representative participation for sustainable and effective tripartite social dialogue. For that purpose, all the trade unions have to work together with a specific plan, they mentioned. It should be noted that besides BILS, another part of the project is being implemented by Workers Resource Center-WRCO.