A discussion meeting on the overall labour situation in Chattogram and ensuring occupational health and a decent working environment at workplaces was held on 01 October 2026 at the conference room of the Chattogram Circuit House. The meeting was organized by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and the District Administration.

The meeting was chaired by Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chattogram. Ariful Haque Chowdhury MP, Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, attended the meeting as the Chief Guest.

The Special Guests included Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation; former First Vice President of BGMEA and Member of Parliament Ershad Ullah MP (Chattogram-8); Abu Sufian MP (Chattogram-9); Sayeed Al Noman MP (Chattogram-10); Md. Abdur Rahman Tarfder, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment; Md. Farhad Siddiq, Inspector General, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments; and Md. Abdus Samad Al Azad, Director General, Department of Labour.

Mohammad Rafique Chowdhury, Vice President, BGMEA, attended the meeting as an invited guest from BGMEA.

Speaking at the discussion meeting, Ershad Ullah MP, former First Vice President of BGMEA and Member of Parliament, highlighted the contribution of the readymade garment (RMG) industry and its significant role in the country’s economy. He also spoke about initiatives to reopen closed factories, renewal of factory licences, and future plans for the industry. He called for the formation of a strong joint committee comprising representatives of DIFE and BGMEA to work collectively in the interest of the RMG industry.

In this context, BGMEA Vice President Mohammad Rafique Chowdhury said that many factories whose licences were renewed last year are currently facing difficulties in renewing their licences. As a result, there is a risk that these factories may be forced to shut down due to a lack of direct orders. This could leave a large number of workers employed by the affected factories without jobs and may lead to labour unrest over wages and benefits. It could also have a negative impact on the bank loans of these factories and the overall banking system. He therefore drew the Honourable Minister’s kind attention to the need for renewing the licences of the concerned factories.

He further said that cleanliness, occupational health and a decent working environment in RMG factories are now integral parts of regular compliance and factory management processes. These issues are also given significant importance during buyers’ audits, various compliance assessments and government inspections. In this regard, Bangladesh’s RMG industry has already made significant progress. He also emphasized the importance of expanding recycling-based waste management initiatives under the Chattogram City Corporation and increasing the use of renewable energy.

At the conclusion of the meeting, following an immediate directive from the Honourable Minister, the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Inspector General of DIFE, and BGMEA Vice President Mohammad Rafique Chowdhury held a meeting to discuss the issue of licence renewal.

It was decided that factories in Chattogram covered under the National Initiative would be jointly inspected by representatives of DIFE and BGMEA. Based on the inspection findings, the factories would be classified as necessary, and a list and report would be prepared and submitted to the Secretary of the Ministry.

The Secretary of the Ministry assured that, after discussing the matter with the Inspector General of DIFE, the issue of renewing the licences of the concerned factories would be considered with the highest priority.