Highlights Bangladesh - Framing the Future

Transcription

BANGLADESH - FRAMING THE FUTURE
Highlights
Bangladesh - Framing the Future
A High Level Conference on RMG and Beyond
The Westin Hotel
Dhaka, 19 March 2015
Background
The Ready Made Garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh accounts for revenues of $24.5 billion, employs
more than 4.2 million workers of whom most are women and the industry feeds approximately 20
million people in the country. Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest exporters of RMG. And as such
the industry is instrumental for the country’s wish to become a middle income country by 2021.
However, the way that the industry has grown, has led to practices which are far from sustainable in
respect of the environment and workers’ right and safety.
24 April 2013, Bangladesh was the center of one of the world’s worst industrial accidents ever. 1,136
RMG workers lost their lives when the factory building Rana Plaza collapsed. A tragedy which shocked
everyone and Bangladesh made the headlines all over the world. However, Rana Plaza, tragic as it was,
has become a game changer to Bangladesh and to the RMG Industry.
Since the tragedy, several initiatives have been taken. Bangladesh has been a first mover in respect of
multi-stakeholder cross cooperation, a cooperation which has led to important results. These results
may not have been achieved at the pace, which the world would have liked to see, but at least they
amount to serious improvements in respect of workers’ rights and safety within the RMG sector in
Bangladesh. The RMG industry alone has a wish of doubling output by 2021 and that requires new
thinking also in respect of the environmental aspects of production. Other industries will have to
contribute to achieve growth and such industries may benefit from the key lessons learned in the RMG
industry.
The conference ‘Bangladesh - Framing the Future’ takes stock on the key learnings of the last two years
and how these learnings may be leveraged to support further sustainable growth in Bangladesh. This
conference was organized as a follow up to the ‘High Level Conference on Garments and Textiles
Production in Bangladesh’ held in Copenhagen in April 2014, with the participation of the ILO, DIEH,
IndustriALL Global Union, BGMEA and Mr. Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment
of the Government of Bangladesh and relevant officials from Denmark.
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Session 1: Intro and Launch of Strategic Sector Cooperation
Setting the Scene
The Executive Director, UK Institute for Human Rights and Business, and the
Workshop Facilitator, Mr. John Morrison began the day prompting that the
two year commemoration of the Rana Plaza collapse is in April 2015, only few
weeks away. There has been unprecedented multi-stakeholder cooperation in
improving the scenario but there are also challenges. The RMG sector aims to
double its exports and reach $50 bn by 2021, but hopefully not double the
environmental cost or energy consumption. He added that the key questions of
the conference are: (i) What worked over the past two years? (ii) What have
been some of the key challenges, and what would we have done differently?
A Human Story – Rana Plaza Workers
Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E. Hanne Fugl Eskjær spoke about the
aftermath of the Rana Plaza collapse from a survivor’s point of view, from
the point of view of Shilpi. Shilpi comes from a very poor family and could
not study beyond class five. But her family’s luck changed as she and her
sister got a job at an RMG factory. Suddenly, they were able to provide for
themselves, their family and even pay for the education of their brother.
Working gave them pride and power. But that luck changed that day in April
2013, when Shilpi was caught inside the ruins of Rana Plaza. She was badly
wounded and will probably never work in a garments factory ever again. But
Shilpi still has her pride and she is adamant about getting her power back. With Shilpi’s story, Her
Excellency emphasized that there is hope to transform victims to survivors. The garments industry has
given employment to many women, and has the goal of tripling its employment numbers in the next five
years. If done in a responsible way, this will provide opportunity for many more women to learn the
trade and earn their own living. This will give them hope, pride and power.
Welcome Note
The Danish Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, Bangladesh,
H.E. Mogens Jensen placed a high value on the multi-stakeholder response to
reforming the RMG industry in Bangladesh, saying “Bangladesh is not only
framing its own future, but also setting an example for the rest of the world
about sustainable production.” Lessons learnt in the RMG sector will be utilized
by other industrial sectors to promote CSR and sustainable production.
Nowhere else in the world has a multi-stakeholder collaboration on a scale like
this come together to improve standards. Challenges exist, for example, the
need for proper enforcement of new Labour Law, the need to remove the
barriers to freedom of association and collective bargaining and the need to continue to invest in
infrastructure to ensure safe working conditions. The Danish government has entered into a unique
partnership with the Danish textile industry to ensure better and more sustainable production in
Bangladesh. Tangible results are expected from this partnership, in particular when it comes to social
dialogue in the workplace. The Danish government has also launched a six point CSR plan that includes a
specific focus on the textile production in Bangladesh and promotion of social dialogue.
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The Minister announced the launch of a new special sector cooperation programme between the
Bangladesh Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Danish Ministry of Employment, and
emphasized that future goals of the RMG industry of Bangladesh will put a lot of pressure on the
environment, and it is essential that scarce natural resources are used efficiently, specially water and
energy. He also mentioned that Bangladesh needs to focus on other promising sectors, such as the
leather industry, which exports around $1.5 billion but also has its challenges with the tannery process
itself and the rights and safety of workers. The shipbuilding industry is another that has potential. For
the last ten years, the industry has grown and Bangladesh is selling ships to other nations. To achieve
the great potential that these sectors have, focus must be on working conditions, safety and sustainable
production methods.
Opening Speeches
The Permanent Secretary, Danish Ministry of Employment, Mr. Peter
Stensgaard Mørch expressed his delight in launching of a new strategic
cooperation between the Bangladesh Ministry of Labour and Employment
(MOLE) and the Danish Ministry of Employment focusing on occupational
safety and health. He mentioned that the staff from the Danish Ministry of
Employment and the Danish Working Environment authority will be working
closely with colleagues in the MOLE, including officials from Department of
Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and other stakeholders to assess how
Denmark can best support the ongoing efforts to improve the working
environment in Bangladesh. A 3-5 year cooperation project will be launched later in 2015, focusing on
the textile and garments industries. He also informed the audience that Denmark has a long tradition of
prioritizing occupational safety and health. First and foremost, Denmark firmly believes that workers
have the right to decent working conditions, and secondly recognizes that safe working places also leads
to higher productivity. Accidents and dangerous working environments often lead to a loss in
productivity. Inspections are a core tool in ensuring high standards and Denmark has about 400
occupational safety and health inspectors for about 1.5 million workers. The inspectors rely on dialogue
with entrepreneurs to find solutions in neutral understandings. Denmark has a successful tradition of
relying heavily on social dialogue, cooperation between workers, employers and the government in
order to achieve common goals of ensuring high standards in the most appropriate manners.
Special Guest, The Honourable State Minister of Labour and Employment,
Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Mohammad Mujibul Haq
commented that the tragic incidents at Tazreen Garments and Rana Plaza
prompted the government to take steps to improve workplace safety and make
commitments to the international community which includes sustainable
production. The Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 was amended in 2013 to ensure
workplace safety and promote collective bargaining and a committee headed by
the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment is leading
implementation. After the amendment, a total of 290 trade unions have been
registered since January 2013 in the garments sector. A national tripartite plan of action on fire safety
and structural integrity in RMG sector in Bangladesh was adopted in 2013. The government, the Accord
and the Alliance have already completed the preliminary fire, electrical and structural integrity
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assessment of 2,550 factories out of approximately 4,000 factories, with the rest expected to be
complete by April 2015. The Directorate of Factories and Establishments (DIFE) has been upgraded to a
department with a staff of 993; 133 new inspectors have been recruited, bringing the total number of
inspectors to 266. “To establish transparency, a publicly accessible database for DIFE has been
established, in addition, we have also established a toll-free helpline from 15 March 2015 on a pilot
basis,” he added. He also informed the audience that the government has decided to establish a
dedicated RMG Village where vulnerable factories of Dhaka city will be relocated and acquisition of 500
acres of land is ongoing. He requested development partners to come forward with training programs
for RMG workers, and appreciated the constructive engagement of the Danish government in promoting
workers’ rights and safety through technical cooperation, awareness raising and capacity building.
Special Guest, The Honourable Foreign Minister, Government of the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali acknowledged His
Excellency Mogens Jensen’s speech on how Bangladesh and Denmark can work
together and how this cooperation is very useful for mapping opportunities and
also challenges facing Bangladesh and charting further steps ahead. He highlighted
the performance of manufacturing in Bangladesh, saying, “Our people and
entrepreneurs continue to show much resilience and innovation in course of
attaining the key social and economic development goals. This journey of
Bangladesh is truly a wider one from shirts to ships.”
He indicated that the RMG industry has undergone a lot of positive changes, yet some important
constraints remain for which Bangladesh require support from friends and partners. His speech also
mentioned that Bangladesh has been highly regarded in both the G20 and G7 summits, and this shows
the commitment of the international community in supporting Bangladesh. In the recent G7 summit,
Bangladesh has urged the member countries to engage with Bangladesh in building a sustainable global
supply chain and to give fair prices to local garment makers. . “We must consider that, while profit drags
business, endless profiteering in global supply chain at the expense of actual producers cannot go on.
Similarly supply chain must deliver on transparency, accountability, ethics equitably,” he added.
Ensuring decent work worldwide is a shared responsibility. Global business is about getting the
parameters of global development right. The key players of the global supply chain have to be able to
look deeper into issues of rights and equity of workers amongst their suppliers. All stakeholders need to
deliver on responsible business conduct.
He concluded his speech by thanking Denmark for keeping confidence and trust in Bangladesh in
difficult times.
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Signing Ceremony: Launch of Strategic Sector Cooperation
Mr. Mikhail Shipper, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment Bangladesh and Mr. Peter Stensgaard Mørch,
Permanent Secretary, Danish Ministry of Employment signing the Letter of Intent to launch the strategic sector
cooperation between Denmark and Bangladesh
Session 2: Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned and Focus Areas Ahead
The Country Director, International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office
for Bangladesh, Mr. Srinivas B. Reddy mentioned the tripartite plan of action
on fire and building safety signed by the government and employers and buyers
organizations, shows a shift in the dynamics of collaboration and reflects the
commitments of the government, employers and buyers to improve the safety
of the RMG sector. Major changes were made to the Bangladesh Labour Act,
particularly to workers’ safety, legislation of trade unions, and transparency of
inspection process. The number of trade unions in the RMG sector grew from
only 126 in the last 30 years up to 2012 to 426 trade unions today. But they still
represent less than 4% of the workers. An immediate priority was to inspect all the 3,500 exportoriented RMG factories throughout Bangladesh for fire and structural integrity. Close to 75% of the
factories have been inspected. ILO has launched a comprehensive RMG program focusing on workplace
safety and workers’ rights issues supported by the Governments of Canada, Netherlands, UK, Norway
and Denmark. Based on mechanisms that have been developed to review factories that are deemed
dangerously unsafe and to close them if necessary, 32 factories has been closed, potentially saving lives
of thousands. “Looking back, the most important lessons include the need for an all-encompassing and
comprehensive approach which involves the government and all private stakeholders in equal footing.
In this regard, neutral organizations like ILO can play an important coordinating role. The involvement of
buyers’ and workers’ organizations should also be considered integral to the process,” he concluded.
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The Vice President (Finance), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters
Association (BGMEA), Mr. Reaz-Bin-Mahmood observed that the RMG sector
does not simply employ people, rather, it is a very important part of the
socioeconomic development of the country. “The Tazreen and Rana Plaza
disasters were significant wake up calls to rebuild the industry and over the last
two years what we have seen is a paradigm shift in the mindset of the
entrepreneurs,” he said. Out of the 2,055 factories inspected by BGMEA, less
than 1.5% factories pose imminent danger to workers’ health and safety and 32
factories have been deemed necessary for closure. For the factories inspected, a
Corrective Action Plan has been formulated.
The BGMEA is working towards changing the image of Bangladesh so that it becomes known as the
safest in the world in terms of workplace safety. In order to create transparency in the process, all
inspection reports are publicly available online. The collaborative approach of stakeholders witnessed
over the last two years has been the key factor behind success. The government has played a very
important role in not only upgrading DIFE and giving it the resources it needs to carry out its functions
properly, but also in allowing tax-free imports of fire safety equipment. In addition to the above, the
BGMEA also conducts a crash course in fire safety for its members. The IFC-ILO Better Works Program
has trained 914 people so far, and BGMEA is training 100 people every month. He appreciated the
government’s role in increasing wages for RMG workers and urged buyers, especially the EU, to offer
higher prices to support the sector.
International Retailer’s Perspective
The Chief Representative, H&M in Bangladesh, Mr. Roger Hubert said that
Bangladesh is the place to be for anyone who is involved in garments. Bangladesh
can be a brand at the forefront of responsible sourcing, and can be the supplier of
choice, not for lowest price, but for its sustainable ways of producing. Over the
last two years, the biggest achievement has been the changed mindset of buyers.
They are no longer simply looking for best prices, but have started to engage and
work together. He also drew attention to other issues, saying, “Since this
conference is about the future, I would like to draw attention to water. Water is
the most important aspect of our future! All our efforts to make factories
compliant and efficient will amount to nothing if the environment and water resources are not
protected.” He stated that tomorrow’s world of RMG in Bangladesh is a world of fashion and creativity,
but to realize that potential Bangladesh needs motivated workers, who are working in safe
environments.
The Donor’s Perspective
The Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E. Gerben Sjoerd de Jong
echoed the general consensus that coordination at this level and by so many
different stakeholders has never been seen before. The local consultative group
on private sector development and the 3+5+1 group of government secretaries,
ambassadors and ILO have been instrumental in coordinating the efforts in the
sector monitoring and taking stock of the progress and the remaining
challenges. The issue of implementation of the amendments of the Labour Law
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is a crucial issue, one also discussed in Brussels last year, but there are still challenges. “We hope to see
BGMEA taking leadership in identifying the remaining non-compliant factories in the RMG sector,” he
added. He mentioned that a fully functional dispute resolution system for sufferers is needed and a
system of cooperation is required so that labour can be organized better in a safer environment. He
added that the technical issue of pricing to incorporate a socially complaint business model not only in
Bangladesh, but worldwide is a real challenge that has been discussed briefly at 3+5+1 group meetings.
His speech concluded on the note that Bangladesh is set to be the front runner for ethical sourcing
practices growth wise and donors and partners look forward to continue to work with Bangladesh.
Presentation on the Danish Partnerships Model and Joint Ethical Trade Initiative (JETI)
The Director, Danish Ethical Trading Initiative (DIEH), Ms. Hanne Gürtler
presented the Danish Partnerships Model and Joint Ethical Trade Initiative (JETI),
which brings together 36 organizations to improve the coordination of efforts and
strengthen the collaboration between partners. The partnership represents a
unique platform for common meetings and joint initiatives between the sector and
the government. “There is a clear appetite for social dialogue and this needs to be
explored further – our program will develop scalable models for workplace social
dialogue with local and worker representation in the program,” she said. The
concept of social dialogue is embedded in giving workers a voice, and all relevant
stakeholders have been consulted in developing the program for Bangladesh. “Social dialogue is
fundamentally about ensuring that workers can voice their concerns in an organized way. In Bangladesh,
it is about giving 4 million workers a voice,” added Ms. Gürtler. The focus is on training programs on
rights and responsibilities of the different stakeholders and the issuing of the Rules and Regulations of
the Bangladesh Labour Act 2013 will help guide the implementation of the program. The DIEH/JETI is
currently preparing training modules, which will be published, and a website will also be launched soon.
Key Learnings: Cooperation Partners
The Chief Safety Inspector, The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building
Safety, Mr. Brad Loewen explained the work of the Accord in Bangladesh.
There are 1,600 factories that the Accord has inspected and there are dozens
of lessons learnt from each. The Accord is an agreement between 200
international brands and labour unions to set up an Independent Inspectorate.
The Accord is a private initiative to ensuring standards and comes as a
response to the absence of a strong enough regulatory system in Bangladesh
that can ensure safe working conditions. There was some resistance to
inspections at first which the Accord had to overcome. He emphasized capacity
building for sustainability, saying, “Actual change in the building doesn’t need any dialogue. You go in,
find what’s wrong and get it fixed. But, dialogue comes in order to make this a sustainable change,
which is why we need Workplace Safety and Health Committees in all factories. Workers need to be
aware of their rights in order to ensure that our efforts sustain beyond our tenure.” He also mentioned
that it was critical for the process to be led by the private sector in Bangladesh.
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The Advisor to Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, Mr. Ian Spaulding
mentioned that the Alliance represents 28 North American brands that monitor
about 600 factories employing about 1.2 million workers. Together, they represent
$4 billion exports per year. There is a vast range of workers in the factories
inspected by the Alliance, from 200 to 5,000 workers per factory. The Alliance, like
the Accord, is a five year initiative ending in May 2018. “In regard to challenges, I
think it is important to accept realities on the ground in regard to why it
sometimes takes time to get things done. For example, you cannot install fire
doors and sprinklers quickly if standard equipment is not available locally. Skills
needed to install such equipment are also not easily found in Bangladesh as people are not familiar with
them”, he mentioned.
About one-third of the 600 factories under the Alliance’s coverage have taken charge and are making
necessary changes on their own. Another one-third needs a lot of push and a lot of support to get things
done. The last one-third is very slow to respond, perhaps due to shared or rented facilities or simply
because entrepreneurs do not have money to invest. The biggest result, according to the Alliance, is a
change in mindset. With the exception of a few, buyers didn’t really care before as much as they do now
about asking the tough questions. Buyers are now going more aware about the conditions of workers of
their suppliers and they are working with their supply chain to changes things.
The Secretary General, IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC), Mr. Roy Ramesh
Chandra said that business mentality is changing. People understand that they
need to consider people, planet and profit; in that order. Bangladesh is definitely
moving in the right direction, but perhaps not moving fast enough, especially
with respect to establishment and improvement of worker’s rights in RMG
factories. He added, “The wage is higher today, but it is still not good enough to
support decent living conditions. Buyers need to pay the right price, so that
manufacturers can make a profit and also pay living wages.” He reminded the
audience that the IBC, even before Rana Plaza collapse on 17 April 2011, invited
the industry for support and formed a trade committee.
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Session 3: Framing the Future
Framing the Future – Challenges and Opportunities
The Founder and Managing Partner, AT Capital Partners, Mr. Ifty Islam presented
the overview of the RMG industry and his presentation, titled “Achieving $50
billion by 2020” showed a possible trajectory starting from 1985 to 2020 where
the industry may reach a direct employment of 8 million people. The major
challenges outlined for the industry, included ensuring safe working conditions in
factories and the need to increase productivity of workers in order to maintain
competitiveness of the sector in the long run. He also mentioned political turmoil
and environmental concerns as challenges. The flipside of the employment and
export benefits that Bangladesh gets from the RMG sector is the even larger
economic benefit received by consumers in Western countries, since the finished product becomes
significantly cheaper since they are produced in Bangladesh. He also stressed the economic benefits
received by other sectors due to RMG, such as banking, packaging, transportation, etc.
He outlined a number of recommendations for Bangladesh in order to achieve its ambitious goals, which
included: moving up the value chain in terms of increasing the design/fashion component in RMG,
improving skills of workers and technology used in factories and developing Bangladesh brands that will
be marketed internationally and capture a greater proportion of the value chain. “Bangladesh needs to
develop a culture where the most compliant factories with best practice are also those that are most
successful and are rewarded with the largest and most consistent global buyer client base,” he said.
Buyers and BGMEA will then be able to positively influence and incentivize other less compliant factories
to reform. Thinking about the long term, he stressed the need to keep environmental and water-safety
related concerns in mind. Lastly, he said that Bangladesh also needs to prioritize finding the next $5
billion export sector, which, should be the most important concern of the Ministry of Commerce.
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Panel Discussion – ‘Sustainable Growth in RMG and Beyond’
The Executive Director, UK Institute for Human Rights and Business, and the Workshop Facilitator, Mr.
John Morrison facilitated the panel discussion.
The President, Leather and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association
Bangladesh (LFMEAB), Mr. Syed Nasim Manzur said that the rules of the game are
the same regardless of the sector, and the EU is at the forefront at setting some of
these standards. The leather sector has not faced the same compliance
impositions, perhaps because the leather sector has greater internal compliance
mechanisms and is better organized, but it is easier to be organized when the
numbers are small. “We only have 135 member firms in LFMEAB, whereas there
are 4,000 firms in RMG. So the dynamics are very different,” he added. The leather
sector has a history of 40 years of constructive and positive labour unions. He
underscored the ground realities of Bangladesh, which include high cost of doing business, regulatory
difficulties and the weakening Euro. The comparison with neighbors and comparators need to include
these unique constraints. He said that entrepreneurs must recognize that better factories simply make
better business sense and that a stable and productive workforce is key to sustainable business. Citing
the example of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) which is well known in the
leather sector, he stressed the importance of international accreditation as a major factor in the growth
and sustainability of the industry. “On paper we have some of the best laws in Bangladesh, but I think
what we lack is good governance,” he said.
The Managing Director, Western Marine Shipyard, Mr. Sakhawat Hossain said
that the shipbuilding sector is growing and can change Bangladesh’s image.
Quality control is the key in shipbuilding in order to enter export markets. Echoing
the comments of Mr. Manzur, he also mentioned that certification and quality is
very important. For example, Western Marine Shipyard has a certified quality
management system and has been ISO certified for safe working environment
which both have been a precondition to receive orders from foreign buyers. He
also mentioned the need for good governance in Bangladesh, along with IMS
Compliance, manpower utilization and capacity development.
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The Vice Chairperson, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), Ms. Shirin
Akhter, MP who is also the Member of Parliament, spoke about the need to be
more specific when it comes to ensuring workers’ rights. “Most of the workers in
the RMG sector are women. They do not have education and are not aware of
their rights. We need to work towards changing the reluctance of entrepreneurs
about these issues,” she said. Entrepreneurs need to understand the issue of
productivity from a comprehensive point of view, since productivity is linked to the
overall mental, physical and social health of every worker. And this is truer for
women than it is for men. With respect to higher number of trade unions, she
questioned whether there is more trade union activity or not. She also stressed that although there is
more safety committees in existence, people do not know how these committees will function. Also
echoing the need for good governance, she said that Bangladesh needs to have a vision, and needs to
have motivation to stand behind that vision.
The Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, Novo Nordisk, Ms. Susanne
Stormer highlighted the importance of looking at CSR as something embedded in
business practices and decisions and not a separate activity. She mentioned that
people in Bangladesh have to take care of themselves, they have no health
insurance, no coverage for medicine, and everyone is responsible for their own
health. In these circumstances, ethical practices in the workplace become even
more crucial. “Our local partner Eskayef Bangladesh Limited incorporates ethical
standards at every stage and we acknowledge that we cannot do business without
involving stakeholders. We invest in education of partners such as doctors and also
support infrastructure building. We need to recognize that no business is an island, it exists and acts as
part of a greater community and needs to act accordingly,” she said, adding that Bangladesh definitely
needs to think about the long run and worry about the basics in order to emerge as a middle income
country in the future. If Bangladesh has a well-fed, well-educated and healthy workforce in place, the
rest will follow. She also emphasized the need to take climate change into consideration. In suit with the
rest of the panel discussants, she also mentioned that Bangladesh needs to ensure good governance,
but added that good governance does not rely on others – it depends on every individual and people
need to actively contribute to the process.
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Concluding Remarks
The President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
(BGMEA), Mr. Md. Atiqul Islam said that although the Bangladesh RMG sector
faced many challenges the industry overcame them all. Bangladesh successfully
eliminated child labour in 1994, increased apparel export even after the Multi Fiber
Agreement quota was phased out in 2005 and also survived the global recession.
He appreciated the progress of inspections by Accord and Alliance, and the
government amending the labour law and making inspection information publicly
available. “In order to frame a bright future for Bangladesh, the most crucial factor
is institutional capacity building and capacity building of inspectors since we need
to sustain current efforts when Accord and Alliance are no longer in Bangladesh. We need to ensure that
productivity of workers are improved as well as improvement of working conditions as these are keys to
improving competitiveness,” he said. Trade unions are welcome and workers need to be educated about
how to use these platforms properly. He also stressed the need to have a long term relationship with
buyers since price squeezing can no longer be the norm of the day. Looking forward, environmental
safety will also need to be made a priority and stakeholder support will be crucial in positioning
Bangladesh’s achievements in the international community.
Chief Guest, The Honorable Commerce Minister, Government of People’s
Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Tofail Ahmed mentioned that Denmark has
been a good friend to Bangladesh since the independence of the country.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s ability to withstand the odds, he said, “Once upon a
time, we did not have forex reserve, we didn’t have paved roads, we were short
on food grains but we have overcome those difficulties. Bangladesh will be a
middle income country by 2021. We are the second largest RMG exporter of the
world, Goldman Sachs has termed Bangladesh as part of the Next 11 and JP
Morgan has included us in the Frontier 5 list of countries.” After Rana Plaza, the
government has taken a comprehensive plan of action to improve condition of workers in the RMG
sector. Citing a survey by Democracy International, he said that RMG workers in Bangladesh are happy.
The minimum wage of a worker is $69 (5,300 BDT). But according to the survey, the minimum income of
a worker is $97 (7,500 BDT), through over time work. Workers are aware about trade unions and want
their trade union leader to be selected from their body of workers. When comparing trade union
activity, he informed the audience that in the US, only 7% of workers in the private sector belong to
trade unions, and this figure is 35% for the public sector. Bangladesh has done everything that was
needed in the wake of Rana Plaza, we appointed more inspectors, setup database of inspection data and
also facilitated the registration of trade unions. He expressed his gratefulness to the EU for duty free
access, and encouraged stakeholders to remember that compliance requires investment and this cannot
be sustained without higher prices from buyers. He also mentioned that the Bangladesh government is
focusing on four sectors: Leather, Shipbuilding, IT and Pharmaceutical Sector and will support them as
needed.
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The Danish Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, H.E. Mogens
Jensen, in his concluding speech, mentioned that it is clear that Bangladesh has
come far, but still has a long way to go. The same is true for many countries in
the world in terms of creating a safe working environment. “Denmark will of
course stay involved in supporting RMG and in the growth of new sectors of
Bangladesh. We believe in investment in People, Planet and Profit,” he added,
making three key concluding observations:
(i) There is still a need for social dialogue and momentum cannot be lost.
Denmark has made a commitment of EUR 10 million in CSR activities.
(ii) Greening of industries of Bangladesh is necessary for long term growth and it also makes business
sense.
(iii) Other sectors will benefit from the lessons learnt from the RMG sector in becoming large exportoriented sectors of Bangladesh.
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Conclusions from the Conference
Lessons learnt and Framing the Future
The last 2 years’ multi-stakeholder cross cooperation involving the government, producers, buyers,
trade federations, NGO’s and donors has been unique and never seen before. The multi-stakeholder
cross cooperation has let to important results. These results may not have been achieved at the pace,
which the world would have liked to see, but they amounts to serious improvements in respect of
workers’ rights and safety within the RMG sector in Bangladesh.
Continued Good Efforts
The future depends on being able to continue the collective efforts that have come into play from the
Accord, the Alliance, the Government of Bangladesh and the development community represented by
ILO and the donors. In order to sustain the momentum gained by the many initiatives, the following
factors will be most crucial:
 Raising the capacity of MOLE/ DIFE and making resources available to carry out inspections
covering 100% of all factories; inspectors need to have the tendency to collaborate with factories to
technically support the implementation of Corrective Action Plans. They need to be seen as working
with the factories and not against!
 Buyers keeping workers’ welfare in mind and making their sourcing decisions not only based on
price, but also on standards and ethical practices.
 The Bangladesh Government, through the related ministries, to pursue the commitment of
supporting the ongoing initiatives, amendment/introduce as well as ensure proper implementation
and governance of appropriate laws and policies.
 The 3+5+1 forum has to continue to operate and influence, and preferably initiate a tripartite
agreement.
 Garment factory owners to continue the efforts in making sure compliance is a key element in their
management practice as to ensure better health and safety for the workers and to realize that CSR
as something embedded in business practices and decisions and not as a separate activity. Efficient
and strategic CSR not only increases worker productivity but also makes sense for making higher
profit!
More Inclusive Collective Bargaining
Despite the rapid growth in registration of trade unions they still only represent about 4% of the
workers in the RMG sector. Trade union growth must be facilitated in the future as well and the majority
of workers must be represented through collective bargaining. Even more importantly education of
workers about their rights and how they can make use of the position of a union member needs to
continue for the foreseeable future. At the same time the factory owners need to see the advantages in
collaborating with the unions and support freedom of association and collective bargaining.
A More Productive Workforce
In order to achieve the ambitious goals of the RMG sector, activities to ensure continuous productivity
improvement need to be given special attention since higher productivity is crucial to ensure future
competitiveness of the sector. This is also equally important if the sector is to keep growing and
15
employing more workers while offering higher wages to its workers. Moving up the value chain will also
greatly contribute to increase the factor productivity of labour in the RMG sector in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh: A Role Model
Bangladesh can be a strong brand of responsible sourcing and a supplier choice for sustainable
production and not just for lower price. But in order to improve the image of Bangladesh in the minds of
the international community, the successes of the past two years and ongoing efforts and commitments
need to be communicated to the international community. This will not only improve the performance
of the RMG sector, but will positively impact other industrial sectors as well.
Greening the Industry
Going forward, the challenges faced by the sector are far beyond ensuring labour safety and rights, and
extend to its impact on environment and resource usage. Keeping the industry’s aspiration for ambitious
growth in mind, there is a tremendous need to ensure that this growth does not come at the cost of
environmental degradation and inefficient usage of resources. Issues such as energy efficiency, effluent
treatment and green technologies will be of paramount importance to long-term success and
sustainability of the RMG and other sectors.
Beyond RMG
Beyond RMG, there are sectors in Bangladesh that has the potential to become major exporters and
contributors to the economy of Bangladesh. These sectors need to be identified and supported for
growth. Besides ensuring workers´ rights and safety and a sustainable industry, access to international
markets hinges also on product quality and on internationally recognized accreditations and
certifications at the factory level. The success of other potential sectors will depend largely on
entrepreneurs learning the lessons of the RMG sector and on obtaining key accreditations.
The multi-stakeholder cross cooperation is key to reach the ultimate goal of a true sustainable and
competitive RMG sector in Bangladesh. A cooperation where responsibilities are shared among the
stakeholders and where the Government of Bangladesh has a crucial and important role and don’t see
the many initiatives as a burden but as an opportunity to grow its exports industries in a sustainable way
and reach its goal of becoming a middle income country by 2021.
16
Sculptures of Survival
The Sculptures
Rana Plaza was first and foremost a human disaster, both for the lives that were lost, and for the
survivors that are marked for life. It is those survivors and their future that the exhibition ‘Sculptures of
Survival’ celebrates. Through the partnership with Meena e.V, Dhamrai Metal Crafts, Abir Abdullah and
Kristen Fugl, the Danish Embassy hopes to continue these people’s journey towards healing and
rehabilitation.
On January 31 2015, a daylong Art-Therapy Workshop was organized for survivors of the Rana Plaza
tragedy. With support from a local Artisan Sculptor, Sukanta Banik, and his team of artists at their venue
in Dhamrai, about forty women survivors and orphaned children were brought together for this daylong
creative workshop, where they were guided in creating sculptures telling their stories of survival, future
hopes and dreams. A total of 10 sculptures were created with the intention of selling them at the
conference “Bangladesh - Framing the Future”, along with photographs from renowned photographer
Abir Abdullah, who has documented the life of the survivors of Rana Plaza from the start.
The sale of the sculptures and photographs
The sculptures and photographs were sold during the conference, to raise money for the survivors of
Rana Plaza through the NGO Meena. Representatives of several of the attending businesses, as well as
embassies bought a sculpture and made a donation, and as a result thereof many more survivors of
Rana Plaza will receive help through Meena’s programs. The Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh is
happy to announce that all but one sculpture was sold, but it is still possible to buy one of the beautiful
photographs taken by Abir Abdullah. Please contact the Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh for
enquiries about the photographs.
Meena e.V.
The Savar Victim Support (SVS) is a project component of the NGO Meena. Savar Victims Support has
been on the frontline of the Rana Plaza disaster, providing relief to those in need with a special focus on
young mothers and orphans. SVS provides medical assistance, food distribution, financial support,
17
psycho-social counselling, recreation days, literacy classes and skills training for the victims and children
of the Rana Plaza disaster.
Contact information Meena e.V.
Meena e.V. Savar Victims Support
Farhana von Mitzlaff, Founder and Executive Director
Tel. 01929069643; E-mail: [email protected]
18
PARTICIPATION LIST
No
Name
Title
Organisation
Type
1
A. K. Azad
Managing Director
That's It Sports Wear Ltd.
Textile factory/industry
2
A. M. M. Safiullah
Vice Chancellor and Professor
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology
Academic
3
A. M. M. Taufiqul Anwar
Professor
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
Academic
4
Aamanur Rahman
Deputy Director, policy and campaigns
Actionaid
NGO
5
Abdullahel Baqui
Deputy Secretary
Coordination and Nordic Economics relations division
Government
6
Abdus Sobhan
Managing Director
Auko-Tex Group
7
ABM Sarwer-e-Alom-Sarker
Assistant Secretary (Europe)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh
Government
8
Abrar A. Anwar
Managing Director
Standard Chartered Bank
Business
9
Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali
Honourable Foreign Minister
Bangladesh Government
Speaker
10
Afzal Hossain
COO
Asia Jute
Business
11
Afzal Hossain
Senior Executive
Navana Toyota Limited
Business
12
Ahsan H. Mansur
Executive Director
Policy Research Institute
Academic
13
Al Masud Tipu
Representative
Valid International
Business
14
Alexander Timmermann
Senior Business Development Manager
Grontmij A/S - Denmark
Business
15
Amanullah
Dean
Academic
16
Amriul Haque Amin
President
National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF)
Trade Union
17
Anders Feldt
Associate
Danish Chamber of Commerce
Business Association
st
18
Andrei Bankaev
1 Secretary
Embassy of Russia
Embassy
19
Anette Aarestrup
Chief Adviser (GRV)
Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government
20
Anette Galskjøt
Consultant
The Royal Danish Embassy, Dhaka
Embassy
21
Anna Larzetty Buus Sørensen
Public Relations Intern
Embassy
22
Anwar Hossain
Merchandising Manager
Bangladesh Fashion Source LTD.
Business
23
Anwarul Haque
Professor
Academic
24
Arild Klokkerhaug
Executive Committee Member
Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bangladesh
Chamber of Commerce
25
Ashraful Alam
Head of Corporate & Distributor Partnerships
Milvik Bangladesh Limited
Business
26
Asif
Representative
BD Source
Business
27
Assaduzzaman
Managing Director
Bangladesh Fashion Source LTD.
Business
28
Astrid Eriksen
Finance Intern
Embassy
29
Azam Nur Rahman Chowdhury
Head of Operations
Inditex (ZARA etc.)
Business
30
Babul Akhter
President
Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF)
Trade Union
31
Badruddoza Nizam
General Secretary
Garment Tailors Worker's League
Trade Union
32
Benôit-Pierre Laramée.
High Commissioner
Canadian High Commission in Bangladesh
Embassy
33
Billy Woodward
Governance Officer
USAID
Embassy
34
Brad Loewen
Chief Safety Inspector
Accord
Speaker
35
Brig. General Shawkat Hossain
Executive Director
Auko-Tex Group
36
Carsten Gloeckner
Junior Expert
Giz
Embassy
37
Cecilie Weinreich Larsen
Commercial Assistant
Embassy
38
China Rahman
General Secretary
Federation of Garments Workers (FGW)
Trade Union
39
Christopher Young
Vice President
Li & Fung Bangladesh
40
Claus Blok Thomsen
Journalist
Politiken
Journalist
41
David Hasanat
Chairman
Viyellatex Group
Business
42
David Meale
Deputy Chief of Mission
US Embassy of Bangladesh
Embassy
43
Debapriya Bhattacharya
Distinguished Fellow
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
NGO
44
Debbie Coulter
Head of Programme
Ethical Trading Initiative
NGO
45
Ehsanul Karim Kaiser
Executive Director
Esquire Group
46
Elsebeth Jarmbæk
Project Manager
Danish Working Environment Authority
Government
47
Emelda Mullick
Human Rights and Labour Assistant
USAID
Embassy
48
Enamul Huque
Head of Local Corporate Business
Business
49
Engr. M. Abu Taher
Chairman
Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leathergoods and Footwear Exporters'
Association
50
Engr. Tasqen A. Khan
Managing Director
Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage Authority
Government
51
Eva Hagström
52
Farhana Ruma
Programme Officer
Embassy
53
Farhana von Mitzlaff
Founder & Chairperson
Meena e.V.
NGO
54
Faruque Hassan
Managing Director
Giant Group
55
Ferdaus Ahmed
International Relationship Secretary
Bangladesh Federation of Workers Solidarity (BFWS)
Trade Union
56
Ferdnand von Weyhe
Chargé Affaires
German Embassy Bangladesh
Embassy
57
Ferdous Sheikh
Project Director
PCCN
Bangladesh
20
58
Francesca Giometti
CSR Partnership Officer
CSR Centre
NGO
59
Fridolin Müller Holm
Chief Project Manager
Viegand Maagøe
Business
60
George Nokrek
Program Manager
Tarango
NGO
61
Gerben Sjoerd de Jong
Ambassador
The Dutch Embassy
Speaker
62
Golam Sarwar
Consumer Business Unit
UL VS Bangladesh Limited
Business
63
Hanne Fugl Eskjær
Ambassador
Speaker
64
Hanne Gürtler
Director
Danish Ethical Trading Initiative (DIEH)
Speaker
65
Hasan Fatheme
Executive Director
Chamber of Commerce
66
Hasib-Ul-Hasan
Assistant General Manager, HR & Compliance
Esquire Group
67
Hasina Newaz
CEO
Orchid Printers
Business
68
Henrik Larsen
Director
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
International organisation
69
Humayun Rashid
Senior Vice President
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber of Commerce
70
Hüseyin Müftüoğlu
Ambassador
Embassy of Turkey
Embassy
71
Ian Spaulding
Adviser to Alliance
Bangladesh Worker Safety
Speaker
72
Iftekhar Zaman
Executive Director
Transparency International Bangladesh
73
Ifty Islam
Founder and Managing Partner
AT Capital Partners
Speaker
74
Imran Kabir
Economic Affairs and Trade Adviser
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Embassy
75
Imranul Hoque
Assistant Professor
Jagannath University
Academic
76
Iqbal Ahmed
Director (Foreign Secretary's Office)
Government
77
Ishita Dutta
Researcher
Bangladesh Legal Aid and services trust (BLAST)
NGO
78
Israt Jahan
Admin and Finance Officer
Chamber of Commerce
79
Jacob Christian Ehrbahn
Journalist
Politiken
Journalist
80
Jakob Jensen
Deputy Permanent Secretary
Danish Ministry of Employment
Government
81
Jamil Ansar
Programme Coordinator
Joint Ethical Trade Initiative
NGO
82
Jan Vang
Associate Professor
Aalborg University
Academic
83
Jens Rise Rasmussen
Project Manager
Government
84
Jesper Ellegaard
CEO
Pure H2O A/S
Business
85
Jesper Nielsen
International Consultant
United Federation of Danish Workers (3F)
Trade Union
86
Jette Robenhagen
HR Consultant
NCCI 3E Project
Chamber
21
87
Johan Frisell
Ambassador
Swedish Embassy
Embassy
88
Johan Stellansson
Relations Responsible
H&M / Puls Trading Far East Limited
Business
89
John Morrison
Executive Director
Institute for Human Rights and Business
Moderator
90
Jonatan Thompson
Director
PurifAid Water International Inc.
NGO
91
Jørn Kresten Roed
Journalist
Herning Folkeblad
Journalist
92
Kakoli Saha
Assistant Secretary
Government
93
Kamaruddin Muzakkir
CFO
Asia Jute
Business
94
Kate Wild
Acting Country Manager
GAIN - Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
NGO
95
Kazi Shariful Alam
Professor
Academic
96
Kenneth Stanley Hardy
Project Manager
Viking Rubber A/S
Business
97
Khondaker Golam Moazzem
Additional Research Director
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
NGO
98
Klaus Christoffersen
Co-owner
Universal Color & Chemical Aps
Business
99
Kohinoor Yeasmin
CEO
Tarango
Business
100
Kristine Zeuthen Jeppesen
Award Management Coordinator
Save the children
NGO
101
Kutubuddin Ahmed
President
Bangladesh Garments Tailors & Leather Workers Federation
Trade Union
102
Lars Branth
Managing Director
Williams Ltd. (Reg: 80)
103
Lee Yun Young
Ambassador
Embassy of South Korea
Embassy
104
Leif Bj. Hansen
Country Manager
Varner Retail Bangladesh
Business
105
Lene Volkersen
Deputy Head of Mission
Embassy
106
Linda Ingolfsdottir
Sustainability Intern
H&M / Puls Trading Far East Limited
Business
107
Linda Nordahl Jakobsen
Journalist
Freelance
Journalist
108
Lipon Richard Costa
Representative
Bestseller
Business
109
Lone Henriksen
Head of Division
Government
110
Lone Ilum Christiansen
Program Consultant
Ulandssekretariatet
Trade Union
111
Loree Semeluk
Second Secretary
Canadian High Commission in Bangladesh
Embassy
112
Louis B. Vanegas
Programme Manager - Chief Technical Advisor
Better Work Bangladesh
International organization
113
Louise Ratjen
Key Account Manager
Compass Sourcing
Business
114
Lucinda Bell
Deputy High Commissioner
Australian High Commission
Embassy
115
M. H. Khan
Advisor
Academic
22
116
M. S. Morshed
Associate Professor
Academic
117
Mads Christoffersen
Co-owner
Universal Color & Chemical Aps
Business
118
Mads Rahbek Thuesen
Office Manager
ID
Business
119
Magdalena Bauer
Research Assistant
Embassy of Germany Bangladesh
Embassy
120
Mahbud Hassan Saleh
Director General (Europe)
Government
121
Mahreen Khan
Senior Advisor
Netherlands Embassy
Embassy
122
Malek Maalouf
Post doc
Aalborg University
Academic
123
Mamunur Rahman
Professor
Academic
124
Mamunur Rashid
Professor
Academics
125
Marat Yu
Associate, Partnership Development
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
126
Marcia Bernicat
Ambassador
US Embassy in Bangladesh
Embassy
127
Mario Palma
Ambassador
Embassy of Italy
Embassy
128
Martin Bille Hermann
State Secretary for Dev. Policy
Government
129
Martin Engmann Jensen
Head of Section
Government
130
Martin Moos
Commercial Assistant
Embassy
131
Masarrat Quader
Private Sector Development Advisor
DFID
Embassy
132
Md. Amanullah Khan
Deputy General Manager
Auko-Tex Group
133
Md. Asadullh Al Mamum
Director
BHDP
134
Md. Atiqul Islam
President
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association
Speaker
135
Md. Azim Uddin
General Manager
That's It Sports Wear Ltd.
136
Md. Borkot Ali
Assistant Director (legal)
Bangladesh Legal Aid and services trust (BLAST)
NGO
137
Md. Golam Mortaza
Economist
Asian Development Bank
Business
138
Md. Habibur Rahman Khan
Executive Chairman
UCEP Bangladesh
139
Md. Mosibur Rahman Bhuiyan
Secretary
National Coordination Committee for Workers Education (NCCWE)
Trade Union
140
Md. Rafiqul Islam
Senior Deputy Secretary
141
Md. Rashadul Alam Raju,
Joint Secretary
Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation
(BIGUF)
142
Md. Rumee Ali
Advisor the BRAC Executive Director
NGO
143
Md. Saiful Islam
Senior Vice President
BRAC
Leathergoods & Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of
Bangladesh
144
Md. Saiful Alam
Representative
Pioneer Overseas Ltd.
Business
23
Trade Union
145
Md. Shafiqur Rahman
Business Consultant
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries Ltd.
Chamber of Commerce
146
Md. Shahidul Haque
Foreign Secretary
Government
147
Md. Shahidullah Azim
Managing Director
Classic Fashion Concept Ltd.
148
Md. Sultanul Islam
Manager
BRAC
NGO
149
Md. Zafrul Hasan
Joint Secretary General
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS)
Academic
150
Mehdi Mahbub
CEO & Chief Consultant
Best Sourcing
151
Merete Lundemø
Ambassador
Embassy of Norway
Embassy
152
Mette Ekeroth
Private Secretary to the Minister
Government
153
Mia Hallén
Political and Commercial affairs
Embassy of Sweden
Embassy
154
Michael McGrath
Country Director
Save the Children
NGO
155
Mijanur Rahman
Vice Chancellor and Professor
Academic
156
Minne Bosma
Advisor Ready-Made Garment Sector
Netherlands Embassy
Embassy
157
Mogens Jensen
Minister for Trade and Development
Government
158
Mohammad Ali
Vice President
Garment Tailors Worker's League
Trade Union
159
Mohammad Enamul Huque
Managing Director
Business
160
Mohammad Sarwar Morshed
Professor
Academic
161
Mosharraf Hossain
Professor
Academic
162
Mozammel Mia
Professor
Academic
163
Muhammed A. Muhit
Ambassador Designate to Denmark
Government
164
Mujibul Haque Chunnu
State Minister of Labour and Employment
Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bangladesh
Government
165
Musarrat Hossain
Program Officer
CSR Centre
NGO
166
Muzadded
Sustainability Developer.
IKEA Dhaka Office
Business
167
Nabila Islam
Business Development Executive
Asia Jute
Business
168
Nasim Uddin
169
Nazma Akter
President
Sommilito Garments Sromik Federation (SGSF)
Trade Union
170
Nazneen C. Huq
Chairman
Change Associates Ltd.
NGO
171
Nina Tranberg
Intern
Embassy of Sweden
Embassy
172
Nirvana Mujtaba
Project Manager - Garment Workers program
GAIN - Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
Initiatives
173
Nur Mohammad Amin Rasel
24
174
Odd Sinding
Deputy Head of Department ALO
Government
175
Ole Damkjær Nielsen
Journalist
Berlingske
Journalist
176
Oluf Sandkull
Development Analyst
Embassy of Sweden
Embassy
177
Omar Gias
BGMEA
178
Patrick Sandoval Nichols
Deputy head of mission
Embassy of Spain
Embassy
179
Paula Albertson
Labour Attaché
US Embassy in Bangladesh
Embassy
180
Peder Pedersen
Managing Director
Arla Foods Bangladesh Ltd.
Business
181
Peter Nørby Olesen
Director
Esquire Sourcing
Business
182
Peter Rasmussen
Journalist
Frelance, 3F
Journalist
183
Peter Stensgaard Mørch
Permanent Secretary
Government
184
Peter Vesterheden
Director
Government
185
Pierre Fabre
Head of Economics
Embassy of France
Embassy
186
Pierre Mayaudon
Ambassador and Head of Delegation
Delegation of the European Union of Bangladesh
187
Poul Kjær
Special Adviser to the Minister
Government
188
Qauzi Ahmed
CEO
Future Leaders (NCCI Member)
Chamber of Commerce
189
Quazi Nazmul Haque
Sr. Programme Officer
Embassy
190
Rabin Mesbah
Managing Director
Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety
191
Rafia Sultana
Sr. Compliance Officer
KappAhl
Business
192
Rahat Hossain
Representative
Criticalink
NGO
193
Rajan Kumar
Head of Office
Novo Nordisk Bangladesh
Business
194
Rajarshi Banerjee
Country Manager
ABB Limited
Business
195
Razaul Karim
Head of CSR
Inditex S.A.
196
Reaz-bin-Mahmood
Vice President, Finance
BGMEA
Speaker
197
Riaz Hamidullah
Director General (Economic Affairs)
Government
198
Rishi Datta
Country Director
National Democratic Institute
NGO
199
Robert W. Gibson
High Commissioner
British High Commission, Bangladesh
Embassy
200
Robert Watkins
UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh
UN
201
Roger Hubert
Chief Representative
H&M in Bangladesh
Speaker
202
Roy Ramesh Chandra
Secretary General
IndustriAll Bangladesh Council
Speaker
25
203
Rozina Razzak
Director
Business
204
Ruhul Amin
General Secretary
Bangladesh Federation of Workers Solidarity (BFWS)
Trade Union
205
Rupali Chowdhury
President
Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce
NGO
206
Rustam Pulatov
Assistant Country Director
207
S. M. Morshed
Vice Chairman
UNDP
Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment
Foundation (OSHE)
208
Saadia Taufiq
Programme Officer
Embassy
209
Sadat Omar
Managing Director
Cutting Edge Industries Ltd
Business
210
Saiful islam Mazumder
Key Account Manager.
Milvik Bangladesh Limited
Business
211
Samia Israt Ronee
Senior Assistant Secretary (Europe)
Government
212
Samina Ahsan Shahrukh
Senior Commercial Officer Trade
Embassy
213
Sanjidaa Hoque
Advisor
Embassy of Spain
Embassy
214
Sarah Cooke
Country Representative
DFID
Embassy
215
Selima Ahmed
President
Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI)
216
Shafiq Islam
Executive Director
Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP)
NGO
217
Shah Asif Rahman
Director (Foreign Minister's Office)
Government
218
Shahida Begum
Program Director
Save the Children
NGO
219
Shahidul Alam
Code of practice Manager - Bangladesh
NEXT
Business
220
Shahnila Azher
Team Leader - Growth and private sector
British High Commission
Embassy
221
Shakhawat Hossain
Managing Director
Western Marine Shipyard
Speaker
222
Shamsuddin Mutaki
Chief Executive Officer
Asia Jute
Business
223
Sharif Islam
Country Manager
Impact Bangladesh Private Limited
Business
224
Shawkat Hossain
Executive Director
Auko-Tex Group
Business
225
Sheik H M Mustafiz
Proprietor
Cute Group
226
Shirajul Islam (Rony)
President
Bangladesh Garment Sramik Karmachari League
Trade Union
227
Shirin Akhter
Vice Chairperson
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies
Speaker
228
Shubhomoy Haque
Programme Officer
ActionAid Bangladesh
NGO
229
Shyamal Biswas
Professor
Academic
230
Sikder Monoare Murshed
Director, Scandinavian Study Center (SSC)
Academic
231
Sirajul Islam Rony
President
Dhaka University
Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees League
(BNGWEL)
26
Trade Union
Trade Union
232
SM Anisul Haque
Director (Europe)
Government
233
Sonia d' Silva
Executive Assistant to the Ambassador
Embassy
234
Sophie Aubert
Ambassador
Embassy of France
Embassy
235
Søren Kannik
Country Manager
TOM TAILOR GROUP
Business
236
Søren Robenhagen
Commercial Counsellor
Embassy
237
Søren Zeuth
Journalist
Freelance, 3F
Journalist
238
Srinivas B. Reddy
Country Director
ILO
Speaker
239
Sten Toft Petersen
Regional Program Coordinator
3F Bangladesh
Trade Union
240
Stephan Skare Enevoldsen
Danida Adviser
Nordic Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Chamber of Commerce
241
Steve Needham
Senior Communications Officer
ILO
242
Sukanta Banik
Owner
Dhamrai Metal Crafts
Business
243
Sumaya Rashid
Country Director
SR Asia
244
Susanne Stormer
VP Corporate Sustainability
Novo Nordisk
Speaker
245
Suvash Saha
Administration Manager
Ikea Dhaka Office
Business
246
Swapan Saha
Chief Operating Executive
Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal (BD) LTD.
NGO
247
Syed Ahmed
Inspector General
Government
248
Syed Nasim Manzur
President
Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bangladesh
Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters
Association of Bangladesh
249
Syed Rafiqul
Deputy Managing Director
Mutual Trust Bank Ltd.
Business
250
Tahera Farhad
Senior HR & Admin. Officer
Embassy
251
Tasmim Zahid Anwar
Programme Officer
Embassy
252
Thomas Jazrawi
Journalist
U-landsnyt
Journalist
253
Tofail Ahmed
Honourable Minister of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh
Government
254
Toufiq Ali
Chief Executive
Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre
255
Triporna Das
Assistant Manager
DBL Group
Business
256
Tuomo Poutiainen
Programme Manager RMG Sector
International Labour Office
257
Tyson William Lyall
Journalist
Altinget
Journalists
258
Vicente Vivencio T. Bandildo
Ambassador to Bangladesh
Philippines Embassy
Embassy
259
Wazedul Islam Khan
General Secretary
Bangladesh Trade Union Center
Trade Union
260
Yameen Farook
Director
Navana Toyota Limited
Trade Union
27
Speaker
261
Z.M. Kamrul Amin
President
Bangladesh Textile & Garment Workers League (BTGWL)
Trade Union
262
Zahangir Alam
Manager, Sustainability
Business
263
Zaki Hassan
Executive Director
Bestseller
UCEP-Bangladesh (Underprivileged Children’s Educational
Programs)
264
Zakir Hossain
Chief Executive
Nagorik Uddyog
NGO
265
Ziauddin Ahmed
Director
Auko-Tex Group
266
Zillul Hye Razi
Economic Advisor
European Union
28
NGO

Highlights Bangladesh - Framing the Future

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