As a part of LO-FTF Council mission to Bangladesh for extending and reviewing its partnership, a meeting held between LO-FTF Council representatives and BILS Advisory and Executive Council Members on November 14, 2017 at BILS Seminar Hall.

BILS Chairman Md. Habibur Rahman Siraz presided over the meeting while Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan delivered the welcome speech and Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmmed was present as moderator. Besides, Director and Head of LO-FTF Council, Denmark Mads Bugge Madsen, Special Consultant of LO-FTF Council, Thailand Jens Aarup, Head of SRO Manila, Philippines Peter Lunding, Members from BILS Advisory and Executive Council were present in the meeting.

Mentioning BILS a remarkable example to unite all the activists involved in Trade Union movement by overcoming all the challenges, Director and Head of LO-FTF Council, Denmark Mads Bugge Madsen said, “BILS has more to do in finding out the issues that create barriers in development and try to solve these. He also suggested BILS to enhance its own capacity for supporting the workers as well as Trade Unions.

BILS Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan shared a briefing regarding political, economic and labour market current situation in Bangladesh. He highlighted some risk factors, such as early floods, the Rohingya refugee influx, elections in 2019, delays in fiscal reforms, low productivity, lack of harmonious industrial relations and rising energy prices in projecting the future growth rates.  But the ongoing infrastructure development may help drive growth rates to a higher level in 2018 and beyond.

In the meeting, BILS Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmmed presented a keynote paper on relentless journey of BILS to inform BILS activities and roles to support the workers for improving their livelihood by keeping the Trade Union movement active.

Another meeting was held with the participation of LO-FTF Council representatives and BILS Management Committee to share BILS current activities on November 15, 2017 at BILS Seminar Hall. In the meeting BILS Project Coordinator Nazma Yesmin presented a keynote paper on “Donor Portfolio” to inform the present status of ongoing and recently ended projects and upcoming projects, communication process with the donors, donor coordination strategy and challenges. Another keynote paper on “Impact of Labour Law Amendment 2013” was presented by BILS Advocacy Coordinator Nazrul Islam in the meeting which explained the changing situation after the Labour Law amendment. At the end of the meeting, BILS Trainers Network Members participated to share their experience.